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  • Title: Hypogonadism in male patients with cancer.
    Author: Garcia JM, Li H, Mann D, Epner D, Hayes TG, Marcelli M, Cunningham GR.
    Journal: Cancer; 2006 Jun 15; 106(12):2583-91. PubMed ID: 16688773.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer often develop anorexia, fatigue, and decreased muscle mass. These signs and symptoms are nonspecific, and they frequently occur in other conditions, including hypogonadism. METHODS: The objectives of this study were 1) to measure testosterone levels in patients with cancer and 2) to examine the correlations between testosterone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), ghrelin levels, and appetite in patients with cancer patients and in a noncancer control group. This was designed as a cross-sectional study in the setting of a university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The study population included 31 male patients with cancer and 25 gender-matched noncancer controls of similar age. The variables total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), TNF-alpha, IL-6, IGF-1, and active ghrelin were measured in fasting morning plasma samples. Appetite was measured according to a visual analog scale. The main outcome measures were cFT and cBT. RESULTS: Cancer patients had mean TT levels similar to levels in the noncancer control group but significantly lower levels of cFT, cBT, IGF-1, and appetite. SHBG, LH, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and ghrelin levels were increased in patients with cancer compared with the control group. cFT and cBT levels were correlated inversely with IL-6 and ghrelin levels and were correlated directly with IGF-1 levels and appetite. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer had lower levels of biologically active testosterone. TT was not adequate for the evaluation of hypogonadism, because SHBG levels were increased. A reliable measurement of FT and/or BT should be used. LH was elevated in the patients with cancer, indicating that low FT levels were caused by primary testicular dysfunction. The authors postulated that high IL-6 or ghrelin levels inhibit testosterone synthesis, although a secondary effect at the hypothalamic-pituitary levels cannot be excluded.
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