[Testicular function in young men treated in prepubertal period for childhood malignancy].
BACKGROUND
A complex anticancer treatment leads to different late effects e.g. gonadal damage in adulthood. The information about gonadal function (steroido- and spermatogenesis) after the treatment in prepubertal period are ambiguous.


OBJECTIVE
was to evaluate testicular function in young men (Tanner puberty stages IV and V) treated in prepubertal period for childhood malignancies.


METHODS
In thirty-two pubertal and postpubertal male survivors of childhood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL - 14, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL - 6, Hodgkin lymphoma, HL and solid tumors - 4) testicular volume and serum FSH, LH, testosterone, inhibin B and calculated quotient inhibin B:FSH were measured. Controls were 15 healthy boys matched by age and Tanner stage.


RESULTS
In the whole studied group the mean values of FSH, LH and testosterone did not differ from control, while inhibin B was lower (87.5+/-96.3 vs. 196.5+/-66.8 ng/l; p<0,0003). The lowest values of inhibin B were found in HL (46,15+/-35,12 ng/l) and after ALL treatment (71,1+/-39,8 ng/l). We did not observe differences in hormonal parameters after NHL treatment. The inhibin B-to-FSH ratio was lower, especially after treatment for HL.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibin B is a sensitive marker of gonadal damage. Anticancer therapy in prepubertal period may lead to disturbances in spermatogenesis.
Krawczuk-Rybak
Maryna
M
Klinika Onkologii Dzieciecej UM w Bialymstoku, Bialystok, Poland. rybak@amb.edu.pl
Solarz
Elzbieta
E
Wysocka
Jolanta
J
Wojtkowska
Małgorzata
M
Matysiak
Michał
M
Gadomski
Artur
A
Kazanowska
Bernarda
B
Sega-Pondel
Dorota
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011627:Puberty / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017741:Survivors; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects
D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone