Researchers at University of Sheffield publish new data on testicular cancer

12-18-2006

Data detailed in "Effect of chemotherapy on skeletal health in male survivors from testicular cancer and lymphoma" have been presented. According to a study from the United Kingdom, "There are concerns over the late effects of cancer therapy, including accelerated bone loss leading to increased risk of osteoporosis. Treatment-related bone loss is well recognized in breast and prostate cancer, due to overt hypogonadism, but there has been little evaluation of the skeletal effects of chemotherapy alone in adults."

"This study assesses the extent of bone loss due to previous chemotherapy in men. The bone mineral density (BMD) of men who had received previously chemotherapy with curative intent for lymphoma or testicular cancers was compared with that of an age-matched population of men from a cancer control population that had not received chemotherapy. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray scanning. Additionally, measurement of sex hormones and the bone turnover markers N-telopeptide fragment of type I collagen and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were done. All statistical tests were two sided. One hundred fifteen chemotherapy-treated patients and 102 cancer controls were recruited. There was no statistical difference in BMD between the chemotherapy and control groups at either spine or hip and the mean BMD values in both groups were no lower than that of a reference population. There were no significant differences in estradiol, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, but follicle-stimulating hormone values were significantly higher in the chemotherapy group (p=0.011). The mean values of NH2-terminal telopeptide fragment of type I collagen and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were within the reference ranges," wrote J.E. Brown and colleagues, University of Sheffield.

The researchers concluded: "The absence of accelerated bone loss following chemotherapy is reassuring and suggests that standard dose cytotoxic chemotherapy has no lasting clinically important direct effects on bone metabolism."

Brown and colleagues published the results of their research in Clinical Cancer Research (Effect of chemotherapy on skeletal health in male survivors from testicular cancer and lymphoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 2006;12(21):6480-6).

For additional information, contact J.E. Brown, University of Sheffield, Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Weston Park Hospital, UK.

The publisher of the journal Clinical Cancer Research can be contacted at: American Association Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St., 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.