Effects of taxane-based chemotherapy on inhibin B and gonadotropins as biomarkers of spermatogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of taxane-based chemotherapy on the male reproductive axis, and, therefore, its impact on spermatogenesis and fertility.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Patients with cancer in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Forty male patients of reproductive age with cancer with solid tumor at diagnosis, who had been scheduled to receive taxane-based chemotherapy.


METHODS
The patients were given treatment with docetaxel or paclitaxel combined with gemcitabine or carboplatin. Blood sampling and testicular ultrasonography were performed before and after completion of chemotherapy.


METHODS
In all patients, serum levels of inhibin B, FSH, and LH were measured, and, in half of the patients, bilateral testicular volume was also measured.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant decrease in serum inhibin B and increase in serum FSH in all patients after the completion of the taxane-based chemotherapy. The median LH levels did not exhibit a statistically significant increase after the last cycle. Bilateral testicular volume exhibited a statistically significant decrease in 19 out of 20 patients (95%) after completion of chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Taxane-based chemotherapy induces the reduction of inhibin B and the reciprocal elevation of FSH, which are associated with significant gonadal damage in the early stages after completion of chemotherapy.
Chatzidarellis
Eleftherios
E
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Makrilia
Nektaria
N
Giza
Laura
L
Georgiadis
Efstratios
E
Alamara
Christina
C
Syrigos
Konstantinos N
KN
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D043823:Taxoids; C422364:inhibin B; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine