WH&Y authors: Professor Kate Steinbeck

Citation: Gunn HM, Rinne I, Emilsson H, Gabriel M, Maguire AM, Steinbeck KS. Primary gonadal insufficiency in male and female childhood cancer survivors in a long-term follow-up clinic. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology 2016;5:344-50

 

Abstract

Purpose: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at increased risk of primary gonadal insufficiency (PGI). This study evaluated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PGI in CCS.

Methods: In this single-center, retrospective, observational, longitudinal study, we characterized CCS with PGI attending the oncology Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) Clinic at an Australian university hospital (January 2012–August 2014). From a cohort of 276 CCS, 54 (32 males) met criteria for PGI: elevated gonadotropins plus low estradiol/amenorrhoea (females) or low testosterone/small testicles for age (males).

Results: Median age at primary diagnosis was 4.8 years (inter-quartile range [IQR] 3.0–9.7 years) and at LTFU, it was 22.3 years (IQR 18.2–25.7 years). Fifty-three participants (98.1%) were treated with known highly gonadotoxic therapies: alkylating chemotherapy (96.3%), radiotherapy (70.3%), total body irradiation (29.6%), bone marrow transplantation (51.9%), or multimodal protocols (68.5%). At primary diagnosis, 86.7% participants were Tanner stage I and at LTFU, 89.1% participants were Tanner stage V. More females (95.5%; n = 21) than males (40.6%; n = 13) were treated with hormone development therapy (HDT) (p < 0.01). Of these, more than half (n = 18; 7 males) required pubertal induction. There was no significant difference in serum luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone (LH/FSH), testosterone/estradiol between those untreated and those treated with HDT. Among those on HDT, 60.7% had persistently elevated FSH±LH and 33.3% had low testosterone or estradiol. Six males had semen analysis (five azoospermic, one oligospermic). Psychological assessment was documented in 61.1% of participants, and two-thirds reported fertility concerns.

Conclusion: PGI is an evolving phenotype that is common in CCS. Suboptimal treatment and non-adherence occur frequently. Ongoing assessment is essential to ensure prompt diagnosis, adequate intervention and to promote HDT adherence.

 


About The Authors

  Professor  

Kate Steinbeck is an endocrinologist and adolescent physician, and Professor and Medical Foundation ...