The effect of chemotherapy regimens in male germ cell tumors on the development of primary hypogonadism

Abstract

Abstract Male germ cell tumors (GCT) have excellent survival. Long-term sequelae in cancer survivors are an evolving field. We evaluated the risk of patients with GCT to develop primary hypogonadism and adherence to guideline-recommended therapy in a real-world cohort. Monocentric study at a tertiary cancer centre to evaluate treated GCT-patients (2001–2019). Post therapeutic male endocrine function, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 and The aging males’ symptoms rating scale (AMS) questionnaires were assessed. The overall response rates were low, with 44 of 402 contacted patients participating in the study. From these, 32(73%) underwent blood analysis, 42(95%) answered the IIEF-5 and 43(98%) the AMS. Latent hypogonadism (serum testosterone 8–12 nmol/l) was found in n = 9 (28%) and manifest hypogonadism (testosterone 50%, which underscored the clinical need to evaluate endocrine function in cancer survivors. We further indicated the difficulties of today’s research and provided starting points to assess barriers for study participations.

Keywords

• Germ cell tumor
• Secondary hypogonadism