title: GH deficiency in adult survivors of childhood cancer.
abstract: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are a fast growing population, but late adverse effects of cancer therapies are not rare. In CCS treated with cranial radiotherapy, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a well-known occurrence and the potential impact of GH replacement therapy on the global outcome of CCS is under continuous evaluation. In the present review, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of GH replacement therapy in survivors of pediatric malignancies, taking into consideration the different reasons for treating GHD during childhood or adult life. It is doubtless that GH treatment is advisable to obtain a normal growth in pediatric patients. As far as the beginning/continuation of the replacement therapy in adult age is concerned, contrasting results have been reported in literature. The suggestion is that the decision to treat adult CCS should be taken after careful evaluation of each patient's clinical history and of the potential side effects, in agreement with the patients.
authors.affiliation: Transition Unit for Childhood Cancer Survivors, Department of Oncology, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, C.so Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: franci.feli@libero.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Felicetti
authors.affiliation: Transition Unit for Childhood Cancer Survivors, Department of Oncology, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, C.so Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy; Oncological Endocrinology Unit, Department of Oncology, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, C.so Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: nfortunati@cittadellasalute.to.it.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fortunati
authors.affiliation: Oncological Endocrinology Unit, Department of Oncology, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, C.so Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Via Genova 3, 10126, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: emanuela.arvat@unito.it.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.affiliation: Transition Unit for Childhood Cancer Survivors, Department of Oncology, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, C.so Bramante 88, 10126, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: ebrignardello@cittadellasalute.to.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brignardello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone
keywords: childhood cancer survivors; growth hormone deficiency; growth hormone therapy