Effect of cancer treatment on hypothalamic-pituitary function

Iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency in adults

Iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency (IAI) is the most common form of adrenal insufficiency in adult patients, although its overall exact prevalence remains unclear. IAI is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including adrenal crisis, impaired quality of life and increased mortality; therefore, it is imperative that clinicians maintain a high index of suspicion in patients at risk of IAI to facilitate timely diagnosis and appropriate management. Herein, we review the major causes, clinical consequences, diagnosis and care of patients with IAI. The management of IAI, particularly glucocorticoid-induced (or tertiary) adrenal insufficiency, can be particularly challenging, and the provision of adequate glucocorticoid replacement must be balanced against minimizing the cardiometabolic effects of excess glucocorticoid exposure and optimizing recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We review current treatment strategies and their limitations and discuss developments in optimizing treatment of IAI. This comprehensive Review aims to aid clinicians in identifying who is at risk of IAI, how to approach screening of at-risk populations and how to treat patients with IAI, with a focus on emergency management and prevention of an adrenal crisis.

Female reproductive health in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors

An estimated 500,000 cancer survivors of reproductive age in the United States will live to experience the long-term consequences of cancer treatment. Therefore, a focused aspect of cancer care has appropriately shifted to include quality of life in survivorship. Infertility is a late effect of therapy that affects 12% of female survivors of childhood cancer receiving any cancer treatment in large cohort studies and results in a 40% decreased likelihood of pregnancy in young adults of ages 18-39 years. Nonfertility gynecologic late effects such as hypoestrogenism, radiation-induced uterine and vaginal injury, genital graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and sexual dysfunction also significantly affect quality of life in survivorship but are underdiagnosed and require consideration. Several articles in the special edition "Reproductive Health in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship" address infertility, genital graft-versus-host disease, and psychosexual functioning in survivorship. This review article focuses on other adverse gynecologic outcomes of cancer therapies including hypogonadism and hormone replacement therapy, radiation-induced uterovaginal injury, vaccination and contraception, breast and cervical cancer screening, and pregnancy considerations in survivorship.

Methionine metabolism and endocrine function of the pituitary gland in patients with suprasellar germinoma

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between methionine (MET) metabolism and endocrine function of the pituitary gland in patients with suprasellar region tumor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with intracranial germinoma were included in this study. Initial staging and all surveillance MET PET/CT scans and comparable serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to tumor location, with tumors in the suprasellar region (condition) or not (control). MET uptake of the pituitary gland (i.e., SUVR [standardized uptake value ratio]) and levels of FSH, LH, TSH were compared in the condition and control groups and in the before and after treatment phases of each group.

RESULTS

The SUVR in the control group was like that found in normal pituitary glands in previous studies, whereas the SUVR of the untreated condition group was high and that of treated condition group was low with significance compared to the control group. Serum levels of pituitary hormones in before and after treatment condition groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. The FSH and LH levels of curatively treated patients in the control group were positively correlated with SUVR with respective ß values of 3.71 and 0.98 (p < .001). The TSH level of the treated condition group was negatively correlated with SUVR (ß = -1.02, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first known investigation to examine the association between MET metabolism and endocrine function of the pituitary gland, and it confirmed that MET metabolism reflects endocrine function. A future study validating the result of correlation analysis is warranted.

Causal associations between site-specific cancer and diabetes risk: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Both cancer and diabetes are complex chronic diseases that have high economic costs for society. The co-occurrence of these two diseases in people is already well known. The causal effects of diabetes on the development of several malignancies have been established, but the reverse causation of these two diseases (e.g., what type of cancer can cause T2D) has been less investigated.

METHODS

Multiple Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, such as the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, weighted median method, MR-Egger, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test, were performed to evaluate the causal association of overall and eight site-specific cancers with diabetes risk using genome-wide association study summary data from different consortia, such as Finngen and UK biobank.

RESULTS

A suggestive level of evidence was observed for the causal association between lymphoid leukaemia and diabetes by using the IVW method in MR analyses (P = 0.033), indicating that lymphoid leukaemia increased diabetes risk with an odds ratio of 1.008 (95% confidence interval, 1.001-1.014). Sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median methods showed consistent direction of the association compared with the IVW method. Overall and seven other site-specific cancers under investigation (i.e., multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cancer of bladder, brain, stomach, lung, and pancreas) were not causally associated with diabetes risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The causal relationship between lymphoid leukaemia and diabetes risk points to the necessity of diabetes prevention amongst leukaemia survivors as a strategy for ameliorating the associated disease burden.

Review of the Function of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Children and Adolescents with Cancer

The most common malignancies in childhood are leukaemias, brain tumours, lymphomas, neuroblastomas, soft tissue sarcomas and kidney tumours. At present, about 80% of childhood cancers can be treated successfully, which has significantly increased long-term survival. Concomitantly, adult gonadal function in childhood cancer survivors has become a concern. However, the immediate effect of cancer and its management on the reproductive axis function has received less attention. We conducted a review of the effects of malignancies and their treatments on the gonadal axis during childhood and adolescence. Some results are controversial, probably because the analyses do not distinguish between the malignancy types, their treatments and/or the age at treatment. However, there is agreement that cancer can partially affect gonadal function before treatment, as revealed by low circulating levels of inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone. Subsequently, chemotherapy transiently impairs the somatic component of the gonads (i.e. testicular Sertoli cells and ovarian granulosa cells) with normalization after treatment ends. The impact of chemotherapy may persist through adulthood after more intensive chemotherapy regimens, radiotherapy and conditioning for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, when there is a severe impairment of the somatic component of the gonads or of the stem germ cells.

Correlating measured radiotherapy dose with patterns of endocrinopathy: The importance of minimizing pituitary dose

BACKGROUND

Pituitary insufficiency is a common toxicity of cranial radiotherapy received in childhood for central nervous system, head and neck, and hematological malignancies. There is a recognized deficiency pattern and correlation with prescribed radiotherapy dose; however, correlation with measured pituitary dose (which can be minimized with modern radiotherapy techniques) has not previously been assessed.

PROCEDURE

Retrospective analysis was carried out of measured pituitary dose and endocrine outcomes of patients receiving cranial, total body, or head and neck photon beam radiotherapy at a tertiary center from July 2008 to October 2019.

RESULTS

Complete data for 102 patients were available. Median (IQR) age at radiotherapy was 9.0 (6.0-12.0) and follow-up 5.7 years (3.5-9.1). Most patients received focal brain radiotherapy (36.3%) or total body irradiation (32.4%); most frequent diagnoses were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (25.5%) and medulloblastoma (17.6%). The majority developed pituitary insufficiency (64; 62.7%); 41% had one and 38% had two hormone deficiencies. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) (58; 56.9%) and thyroid-stimulating hormone deficiency (TSHD) (32; 31.4%) were most common. Patients who developed pituitary insufficiency received higher maximum pituitary dose-median (IQR) Gy, 44.0 (20.4-54.0) vs 18.2 (14.4-52.6); P = 0.008. Doses of 40-49 Gy or &gt;50 Gy led to a higher cumulative incident rate than &lt;20 Gy (HR 4.07, P &lt; 0.001 and HR 3.04, P &lt; 0.001, respectively). However, even at lower dose bands, levels of pituitary insufficiency were significant with a five-year cumulative incidence of GHD for &lt;20 Gy and TSHD for 20-29 Gy reaching &gt;30%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm a correlation between measured pituitary dose and risk of insufficiency even at lower doses, despite modern radiotherapy techniques. These data highlight the importance of minimizing pituitary dose and early specialist endocrine follow-up.

Pituitary Apoplexy Precipitated by Systemic Chemotherapy

Pituitary apoplexy often occurs in patients with previously undiagnosed pituitary adenomas and no predisposing factors. Among patients with precipitating events, there are very few cases of pituitary apoplexy occurring in the setting of systemic chemotherapy treatment. A 31-year-old man with newly diagnosed metastatic testicular cancer developed headaches, nausea, and a right-sided visual field deficit one week after initiation of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin chemotherapy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemorrhage within a pituitary macroadenoma consistent with pituitary apoplexy, and he underwent urgent transnasal resection. We also review the four prior cases of pituitary apoplexy temporally associated with the administration of systemic chemotherapy.

Central nervous system tumors in children under 5 years of age: a report on treatment burden, survival and long-term outcomes

Purpose

The challenges of treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors in young children are many. These include age-specific tumor characteristics, limited treatment options, and susceptibility of the developing CNS to cytotoxic therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term survival, health-related, and educational/occupational outcomes of this vulnerable patient population.

Methods

Retrospective study of 128 children diagnosed with a CNS tumor under 5 years of age at a single center in Switzerland between 1990 and 2019.

Results

Median age at diagnosis was 1.81 years [IQR, 0.98–3.17]. Median follow-up time of surviving patients was 8.39 years [range, 0.74–23.65]. The main tumor subtypes were pediatric low-grade glioma (36%), pediatric high-grade glioma (11%), ependymoma (16%), medulloblastoma (11%), other embryonal tumors (7%), germ cell tumors (3%), choroid plexus tumors (6%), and others (9%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 78.8% (95% CI, 71.8–86.4%) for the whole cohort. Eighty-seven percent of survivors > 5 years had any tumor- or treatment-related sequelae with 61% neurological complications, 30% endocrine sequelae, 17% hearing impairment, and 56% visual impairment at last follow-up. Most patients (72%) attended regular school or worked in a skilled job at last follow-up.

Conclusion

Young children diagnosed with a CNS tumor experience a range of complications after treatment, many of which are long-lasting and potentially debilitating. Our findings highlight the vulnerabilities of this population, the need for long-term support and strategies for rehabilitation, specifically tailored for young children.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11060-022-03963-3.

Stress Axis in the Cancer Patient: Clinical Aspects and Management

Hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis alterations are common in cancer patients, mainly due to the different antitumoral therapies, which lead to several acute and late endocrine side effects. This review summarizes the most recent evidence regarding HPA derangement, both in patients with active neoplasms and in cancer survivors, with particular attention to the impact of the different antitumoral treatments, focusing on the major clinical aspects. While acute hormone failure usually results from injury caused directly by tumor burden or surgical interventions, short- and long-term effects are generally due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, as more recently shown, to different types of targeted- and immuno-therapy. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is mostly caused by pituitary or hypothalamic injury rather than a direct damage of the adrenal gland. Moreover, other treatments commonly employed as supportive therapy or in the context of palliative care (i.e., glucocorticoids, opioids) can lead to HPA dysfunction. Epidemiology and pathophysiology of stress axis alterations in cancer patients still require clarification. Since AI may represent a life-threatening condition, monitoring adrenal function in cancer patients is mandatory, especially in subjects who experience fatigue or during stress conditions, in order to promptly start replacement treatment when needed.

Diagnosis and Management of Neuroendocrine Disorders of Survivors of Brain Tumors

Advances in the treatment of brain tumors have led to an increase in the number of survivors of this disease. Consequently, the long-term complications associated with past and current treatments are becoming more apparent. Of relevance to patients who receive treatment of brain tumors are the potential neuroendocrine complications that develop either acutely or several years following treatment. Presentation may differ between adults and children (e.g., short stature or adult growth hormone deficiency) but in both settings can complicate treatment and impact quality of life. The risk for the development of these complications depends on the location of the tumor (proximity to the pituitary/hypothalamus) and/or the treatment delivered (chemotherapy/surgery/radiation). Given the potential overlap in symptoms attributable to the underlying brain tumor and neuroendocrine dysfunction, a high level of suspicion, appropriate investigation, and administration of treatment may reduce morbidity and mortality for patients with brain tumors experiencing neuroendocrine dysfunction.

Regional Responses in Radiation-Induced Normal Tissue Damage

Normal tissue side effects remain a major concern in radiotherapy. The improved precision of radiation dose delivery of recent technological developments in radiotherapy has the potential to reduce the radiation dose to organ regions that contribute the most to the development of side effects. This review discusses the contribution of regional variation in radiation responses in several organs. In the brain, various regions were found to contribute to radiation-induced neurocognitive dysfunction. In the parotid gland, the region containing the major ducts was found to be critical in hyposalivation. The heart and lung were each found to exhibit regional responses while also mutually affecting each other's response to radiation. Sub-structures critical for the development of side effects were identified in the pancreas and bladder. The presence of these regional responses is based on a non-uniform distribution of target cells or sub-structures critical for organ function. These characteristics are common to most organs in the body and we therefore hypothesize that regional responses in radiation-induced normal tissue damage may be a shared occurrence. Further investigations will offer new opportunities to reduce normal tissue side effects of radiotherapy using modern and high-precision technologies.

Adrenal Insufficiency Caused by Chronic Corticosteroid Use, Identified through Medication Therapy Management

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic corticosteroid treatment.Summary: This case study describes a 71-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). She had a long history of multiple medical problems that affected her quality of life. The pharmacist reviewed 18 years (2001-2018) of medical records, including her corticosteroid usage history. The patient had been receiving chronic medium-high dose inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, with intermittent oral prednisone for exacerbations. The pharmacist suspected a possible SAI or tertiary adrenal insufficiency (TAI) caused by hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis suppression induced by chronic corticosteroid use. After discussions with the patient's primary care physician and a screening adrenal function test, the patient was referred to an endocrinologist, and the diagnosis was confirmed. Low-dose hydrocortisone (<30 mg daily) was prescribed; the patient had improvements in mood, skin hyperpigmentation, and asthma symptoms, which eliminated the routine visits to the emergency room/clinic during the winter season.CONCLUSION: The case illustrated the benefits of utilizing a pharmacist's expertise. A consultant pharmacist can identify an underdiagnosed and rare condition, corticosteroid-induced adrenal insufficiency, through comprehensive medication review in a community medication therapy management service setting.

A multidimensional cohort study of late toxicity after intensity modulated radiotherapy for sinonasal cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the occurrence of late toxicity after curatively intended intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for sinonasal cancer and assess dose-response associations.

METHODS

Patients treated with IMRT in 2008-2016 were included. Cross sectional examinations of toxicity from the optic pathway, the brain, the pituitary gland and the nose were performed along with quality of life - (QoL) and dose-response analyses.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled; median age was 67 years (range 47-83). Five patients (19%) had radiation-related ocular toxicity. The risk of visual acuity impairment increased with increasing dose (grade 2 odds ration (OR) 1.12, p = 0.01; grade 3 OR 1.14, p = 0.02) and dose constraint violations (grade 2, OR = 21, p < 0.01; grade 3, OR = 41, p < 0.01). Six patients (22%) exhibited evidence of radiation-related hypopituitarism, but no dose-response association was detected. Seventeen patients (63%) had impaired olfactory function. The risk of olfactory impairment increased with higher stage (OR = 3.32, p = 0.03). Three patients (11%) had structural abnormalities in irradiated areas of the brain, and impaired cognitive function was present in 17 patients (63%). Cognitive, physical, role functioning as well as fatigue and insomnia were affected the most in QOL analyses. Fifteen patients (56%) had grade 2 radiation-related impairment in at least one organ. Grade 3 toxicity was only present in patients with toxicities in >3 organs and in patients initially treated for T4 tumours. Three patients (11%) had radiation-related impaired function in all examined OARs.

CONCLUSION

Late toxicity after radiotherapy was substantial in all examined organs, with dose-response associations between visual acuity impairment and the optic nerve. The results have led to changed praxis for follow-up examinations in Denmark.

Late Effects of Parasellar Lesion Treatment: Hypogonadism and Infertility

Central hypogonadism, also defined as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, is a recognized complication of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis damage following treatment of sellar and parasellar masses. In addition to radiotherapy and surgery, CTLA4-blocking antibodies and alkylating agents such as temozolomide can also lead to hypogonadism, through different mechanisms. Central hypogonadism in boys and girls may lead to pubertal delay or arrest, impairing full development of the genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics. Alternatively, cranial irradiation or ectopic hormone production may instead cause early puberty, affecting hypothalamic control of the gonadostat. Given the reproductive risks, discussion of fertility preservation options and referral to reproductive specialists before treatment is essential. Steroid hormone replacement can interfere with other replacement therapies and may require specific dose adjustments. Adequate gonadotropin stimulation therapy may enable patients to restore gametogenesis and conceive spontaneously. When assisted reproductive technology is needed, protocols must be tailored to account for possible long-term gonadotropin insufficiency prior to stimulation. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the risk factors for hypogonadism and infertility in patients treated for parasellar lesions and to give a summary of the current recommendations for management and follow-up of these dysfunctions in such patients. We have also briefly summarized evidence on the physiological role of pituitary hormones during pregnancy, focusing on the management of pituitary deficiencies.

Are hypothalamic- pituitary (HP) axis deficiencies after whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) of relevance for adult cancer patients? - a systematic review of the literature

Background

Cranial radiotherapy (cRT) can induce hormonal deficiencies as a consequence of significant doses to the hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) axis. In contrast to profound endocrinological follow-up data from survivors of childhood cancer treated with cRT, little knowledge exists for adult cancer patients.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the PubMed database and the Cochrane library offering the basis for our debate of the relevance of HP axis impairment after cRT in adult cancer patients. Against the background of potential relevance for patients receiving whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), a particular focus was set on the temporal onset of hypopituitarism and the radiation dose to the HP axis.

Results

Twenty-eight original papers with a total of 1728 patients met the inclusion criteria. Radiation doses to the HP area ranged from 4 to 97 Gray (Gy). Hypopituitarism incidences ranged from 20 to 93% for adult patients with nasopharyngeal cancer or non-pituitary brain tumors. No study focused particularly on hypopituitarism after WBRT. The onset of hypopituitarism occurred as early as within the first year following cRT (range: 3 months to 25.6 years). However, since most studies started follow-up evaluation only several years after cRT, early onset of hypopituitarism might have gone unnoticed.

Conclusion

Hypopituitarism occurs frequently after cRT in adult cancer patients. Despite the general conception that it develops only after several years, onset of endocrine sequelae can occur within the first year after cRT without a clear threshold. This finding is worth debating particularly in respect of treatment options for patients with brain metastases and favorable survival prognoses.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Disorders in Childhood Cancer Survivors: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Long-Term Health Outcomes

CONTEXT

Data on hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) disorders in systematically evaluated childhood cancer survivors are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To describe prevalence, risk factors, and associated adverse health outcomes of deficiencies in GH deficiency (GHD), TSH deficiency (TSHD), LH/FSH deficiency (LH/FSHD), and ACTH deficiency (ACTHD), and central precocious puberty (CPP).

DESIGN

Retrospective with cross-sectional health outcomes analysis.

SETTING

Established cohort; tertiary care center.

PATIENTS

Participants (N = 3141; median age, 31.7 years) were followed for a median 24.1 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% CIs for associations among HP disorders, tumor- and treatment-related risk factors, and health outcomes.

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence was 40.2% for GHD, 11.1% for TSHD, 10.6% for LH/FSHD, 3.2% for ACTHD, and 0.9% for CPP among participants treated with HP radiotherapy (n = 1089), and 6.2% for GHD, and <1% for other HP disorders without HP radiotherapy. Clinical factors independently associated with HP disorders included HP radiotherapy (at any dose for GHD, TSHD, LH/FSHD, >30 Gy for ACTHD), alkylating agents (GHD, LH/FSHD), intrathecal chemotherapy (GHD), hydrocephalus with shunt placement (GHD, LH/FSHD), seizures (TSHD, ACTHD), and stroke (GHD, TSHD, LH/FSHD, ACTHD). Adverse health outcomes independently associated with HP disorders included short stature (GHD, TSHD), severe bone mineral density deficit (GHD, LH/FSHD), obesity (LH/FSHD), frailty (GHD), impaired physical health-related quality of life (TSHD), sexual dysfunction (LH/FSHD), impaired memory, and processing speed (GHD, TSHD).

CONCLUSION

HP radiotherapy, central nervous system injury, and, to a lesser extent, chemotherapy are associated with HP disorders, which are associated with adverse health outcomes.

Safety of standardised treatments for haematologic malignancies as regards to testicular endocrine function in children and teenagers

STUDY QUESTION

Does standardised treatments used in children and adolescents with haematologic malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic (ALL) or myeloid leukaemia (AML) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), affect endocrine function of the developing testes?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Therapy of haematologic malignancies do not provoke an overt damage of Sertoli and Leydig cell populations, as revealed by normal levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and testosterone, but a mild primary testicular dysfunction may be observed, compensated by moderate gonadotropin elevation, during pubertal development.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Evidence exists on the deleterious effect that chemotherapy and radiotherapy have on germ cells, and some attention has been given to the effects on Leydig and Sertoli cells of the adult gonads, but information is virtually non-existent on the effects of oncologic treatment on testicular somatic cell components during childhood and adolescence.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

A retrospective, analytical, observational study included 97 boys with haematological malignancies followed at two tertiary paediatric public hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 2002 and 2015.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Clinical records of males aged 1-18 years, referred with the diagnoses of ALL, AML or NHL for the assessment of gonadal function, were eligible. We assessed serum levels of AMH and FSH as biomarkers of Sertoli cell endocrine function and testosterone and LH as biomarkers of Leydig cell function.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

All hormone levels were normal in the large majority of patients until early pubertal development. From Tanner stage G3 onwards, while serum AMH and testosterone kept within the normal ranges, gonadotropins reached mildly to moderately elevated values in up to 35.9% of the cases, indicating a compensated Sertoli and/or Leydig cell dysfunction, which generally did not require hormone replacement therapy.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Serum inhibin B determination and semen analysis were not available for most patients; therefore, we could not conclude on potential fertility impairment or identify whether primary Sertoli cell dysfunction resulted in secondary depleted spermatogenesis or whether primary germ cell damage impacted Sertoli cell function.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The regimens used in the treatment of boys and adolescents with ALL, AML or NHL in the past two decades seem relatively safe for endocrine testicular function; nonetheless, a mild primary testicular endocrine dysfunction may be observed, usually compensated by slightly elevated gonadotropin secretion by the pituitary in adolescents, and not requiring hormone replacement therapy. No clinically relevant risk factor, such as severity of the disease or treatment protocol, could be identified in association with the compensated endocrine dysfunction.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was partially funded by grants PIP 11220130100687 of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and PICT 2016-0993 of Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCYT), Argentina. R.A.R., R.P.G. and P.B. have received honoraria from CONICET (Argentina) for technology services using the AMH ELISA. L.A.A. is part-time employee of CSL Behring Argentina. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Surprisingly, the Result of an Unplanned Pregnancy after Cranial Radiotherapy: A Case Report (Successful Childbirth after Brain Astrocytoma)

The present study aimed to present a rare case of successful pregnancy within 6 months from cranial mass surgery and postsurgical radiotherapy. A 32-year-old female with gestational age of 19 weeks had been refereed with a past medical history of recently treated brain astrocytoma. Close obstetric monitoring had been planned; the pregnancy was complicated with severe preeclampsia at the gestational age of 36 weeks, which leads to successful delivery. Pregnancy in patients with a history of cancer has been the focus of studies today and in many cancers it is recommended to delay pregnancy for at least 2 years. The prognosis of such a patient after unplanned pregnancy conception could be more complex; and the present case report aimed to explain about it. The goal of this presentation was to emphasis on the possibility of fertility preservation in the patient with malignancy even after cranial mass surgery and radiotherapy.

Oncofertility: Meeting the Fertility Goals of Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

Adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 39 years who are diagnosed with cancer (AYA survivors) undergo a range of therapies for cancer cure but subsequently may be at risk of treatment-related infertility, and for female AYA survivors, adverse pregnancy outcomes. Future fertility is important to AYA survivors. Meeting their fertility goals requires awareness of this importance, knowledge of cancer treatment-related fertility risks, appropriate fertility counseling on these risks, and access to fertility care. Epidemiologic and dissemination and implementation research are needed to estimate more precise risks of traditional and novel cancer therapies on fertility and pregnancy outcomes and improve the delivery of fertility care.

Prevalence of metastases within the hypothalamic-pituitary area in patients with brain metastases

Aim

To quantify the prevalence of brain metastases involving the hypothalamic-pituitary (HT-P) area.

Introduction

Cognitive impairment and fatigue are common side effects of whole brain irradiation (WBI) comprising the quality of life (QoL) for survivors. While the former is related to radiation-induced hippocampal injury, the latter could be secondary to hormonal disbalance as a consequence of radiation of the HT-P area. Thus, sparing both regions from higher irradiation doses could reduce these sequelae.

Methods

T1 contrast medium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 865 patients with brain metastases (4,280 metastases) were reviewed. HT-P area was individually contoured with a margin of 5 mm in order to evaluate the prevalence of brain metastases in this region.

Results

Involvement of the hypothalamic region was found in 26 patients (involvement rate of 3% for patients and 1% for metastases), involvement of the pituitary gland in 9 patients (1% for patients and < 1% for metastases). Binary logistical regression analysis revealed the presence of > 10 brain metastases as the only factor associated with hypothalamic involvement while no distinct factor was associated with an involvement of the pituitary gland.

Conclusion

The low prevalence of metastases within the HT-P area in patients with brain metastases calls for further studies examining whether sparing of this region might improve patients QoL.

Radiations and female fertility

Hundreds of thousands of young women are diagnosed with cancer each year, and due to recent advances in screening programs, diagnostic methods and treatment options, survival rates have significantly improved. Radiation therapy plays an important role in cancer treatment and in some cases it constitutes the first therapy proposed to the patient. However, ionizing radiations have a gonadotoxic action with long-term effects that include ovarian insufficiency, pubertal arrest and subsequent infertility. Cranial irradiation may lead to disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with consequent dysregulation of the normal hormonal secretion. The uterus might be damaged by radiotherapy, as well. In fact, exposure to radiation during childhood leads to altered uterine vascularization, decreased uterine volume and elasticity, myometrial fibrosis and necrosis, endometrial atrophy and insufficiency. As radiations have a relevant impact on reproductive potential, fertility preservation procedures should be carried out before and/or during anticancer treatments. Fertility preservation strategies have been employed for some years now and have recently been diversified thanks to advances in reproductive biology. Aim of this paper is to give an overview of the various effects of radiotherapy on female reproductive function and to describe the current fertility preservation options.

Declining free thyroxine levels over time in irradiated childhood brain tumor survivors

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of cranial radiotherapy (cRT)-induced central hypothyroidism (TSHD) in childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) is reported to be low. However, TSHD may be more frequent than currently suspected, as its diagnosis is challenging due to broad reference ranges for free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations. TSHD is more likely to be present when FT4 levels progressively decline over time. Therefore, we determined the incidence and latency time of TSHD and changes of FT4 levels over time in irradiated CBTS.

DESIGN

Nationwide, 10-year retrospective study of irradiated CBTS.

METHODS

TSHD was defined as 'diagnosed' when FT4 concentrations were below the reference range with low, normal or mildly elevated thyrotropin levels, and as 'presumed' when FT4 declined ≥ 20% within the reference range. Longitudinal FT4 concentrations over time were determined in growth hormone deficient (GHD) CBTS with and without diagnosed TSHD from cRT to last follow-up (paired t-test).

RESULTS

Of 207 included CBTS, the 5-year cumulative incidence of diagnosed TSHD was 20.3%, which occurred in 50% (25/50) of CBTS with GHD by 3.4 years (range, 0.9-9.7) after cRT. Presumed TSHD was present in 20 additional CBTS. The median FT4 decline in GH-deficient CBTS was 41.3% (P < 0.01) to diagnosis of TSHD and 12.4% (P = 0.02) in GH-deficient CBTS without diagnosed TSHD.

CONCLUSIONS

FT4 concentrations in CBTS significantly decline over time after cRT, also in those not diagnosed with TSHD, suggesting that TSHD occurs more frequently and earlier than currently reported. The clinical relevance of cRT-induced FT4 decline over time should be investigated in future studies.

Metabolic syndrome as cardiovascular risk factor in childhood cancer survivors

Over the past decades, survival rates of childhood cancer have increased considerably from 5 to 30% in the early seventies to current rates exceeding 80%. This is due to the development of effective chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation, combined with an optimized stratification of therapy and better supportive care regimens. As a consequence, active surveillance strategies of late sequelae have been developed to improve the quality of survival. Several epidemiological studies have reported an increased incidence of (components of) metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) after cranial radiotherapy (CRT) has been previously described as an important cause of MetS. New insights suggest a role for abdominal radiotherapy as a determinant for MetS as well. The role of other risk factors, such as specific chemotherapeutic agents, steroids, gonadal impairment, thyroid morbidity and genetics, warrants further investigation. This knowledge is important to define subgroups of CCS that are at risk to develop (subclinical) MetS features. These survivors might benefit from standard surveillance and early interventions, for example lifestyle and diet advice and medical treatment, thereby preventing the development of cardiovascular disease.

Are hypothyroidism and hypogonadism clinically relevant in patients with malignant gliomas? A longitudinal trial in patients with glioma

BACKGROUND

So far, the development and course of therapy-induced deficiencies in hypothalamic-pituitary hormones in adult patients with malignant gliomas has not received much attention. However, such deficiencies may impact patient's quality of life substantially.

METHODS

In this monocentric longitudinal trial, we examined hormonal levels of TSH, T3, T4, fT3, fT4, FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol and prolactin in patients with malignant high grade gliomas before the start of radiochemotherapy (RCT), at the end of RCT and then every three months for newly diagnosed patients and every six months in patients diagnosed more than two years before study inclusion. Growth hormone was not measured in this trial.

RESULTS

436 patients (198 female, 238 male) with high-grade gliomas, aged 19-83 years (median 50 years), were included in this study. Low levels of thyroid hormones were observed in around 10% of patients within the first six months of follow up and increasingly after 36 months. Half of premenopausal women at study entry developed premature menopause, 35% showed hyperprolactinemia. Low testosterone levels were measured in 37% of men aged less than 50 years and in 35/63 (55%) of men aged 50 years or older.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study show that a significant percentage of patients with malignant gliomas develop hormonal deficiencies mandating regular clinical follow up, state of the art counseling and if clinically necessary substitution therapy.

Long-term and late treatment consequences: endocrine and metabolic effects

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cancer therapies often result in the 'late effect of cancer treatment' whereby secondary health complications emerge years after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review focuses on endocrine and metabolic consequences in adult cancer survivors as late treatment effects.

RECENT FINDINGS

Endocrine and metabolic disorders are among the most common late effects. Endocrine disorders include hypopituitarism, which leads to growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism and related clinical manifestations. Hypogonadism in particular is associated with a wide range of health complications requiring input from the like of endocrine and fertility specialists. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are novel anticancer agents, some of which are uniquely associated with hypophysitis which requires early recognition and management, including steroid replacement. Metabolic syndrome, a significant risk for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent. Although the effects of cranial irradiation on the hypothalamic-pituitary system are more apparent, the relationship between chemotherapy and endocrine/metabolic disorders remains to be elucidated. There exist published guidelines for monitoring endocrine and cardiometabolic risk in cancer survivors, but the extent of monitoring appears insufficient.

SUMMARY

Regular monitoring and early management of endocrine/metabolic disorders is required to prevent the elevated rates of health complications after cancer treatment, and thereby improve cancer survivorship.

Fertility counseling and preservation: considerations for the pediatric endocrinologist

Infertility is a distressing consequence of numerous pediatric medical conditions and treatments. The field of pediatric fertility preservation has expanded rapidly over the past decade, and clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of discussing infertility risk and fertility preservation options with patients and families in a timely manner. Understanding the various mechanisms and presentations of fertility issues across diagnoses is imperative to provide counseling to patients and families, and identify individuals who may benefit from fertility preservation. The goals of this manuscript are to outline current fertility preservation options in pediatrics, review populations at-risk for infertility that are seen in pediatric endocrinology, and discuss other important issues related to fertility preservation including ethical considerations.

Novel concepts in the aetiology of male reproductive impairment

Infertility is a widespread problem and a male contribution is involved in 20-70% of affected couples. As a man's fertility relies on the quantity and quality of his sperm, semen analysis is generally used as the proxy to estimate fertility or gain insight into the underlying reasons for infertility. Male reproductive impairment might result from factors that affect sperm production, quality, function, or transport. Although in most men the origin of infertility remains unexplained, genetic causes are increasingly being discovered. In this first of two papers in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Series on male reproductive impairment, we propose a novel, clinically based aetiological construct with a genetic focus, and consider how this might serve as a helpful way to conceptualise a diagnostic algorithm.

Hypophysitis Secondary to Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated Protein 4 Blockade: Insights into Pathogenesis from an Autopsy Series

Hypophysitis that develops in cancer patients treated with monoclonal antibodies blocking cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4; an inhibitory molecule classically expressed on T cells) is now reported at an incidence of approximately 10%. Its pathogenesis is unknown, in part because no pathologic examination of the pituitary gland has been reported to date. We analyzed at autopsy the pituitary glands of six cancer patients treated with CTLA-4 blockade, one with clinical and pathologic evidence of hypophysitis, one with mild lymphocytic infiltration in the pituitary gland but no clinical signs of hypophysitis, and four with normal pituitary structure and function. CTLA-4 antigen was expressed by pituitary endocrine cells in all patients but at different levels. The highest levels were found in the patient who had clinical and pathologic evidence of severe hypophysitis. This high pituitary CTLA-4 expression was associated with T-cell infiltration and IgG-dependent complement fixation and phagocytosis, immune reactions that induced an extensive destruction of the adenohypophyseal architecture. Pituitary CTLA-4 expression was confirmed in a validation group of 37 surgical pituitary adenomas and 11 normal pituitary glands. The study suggests that administration of CTLA-4 blocking antibodies to patients who express high levels of CTLA-4 antigen in the pituitary can cause an aggressive (necrotizing) form of hypophysitis through type IV (T-cell dependent) and type II (IgG dependent) immune mechanisms.

Revisitation of autoimmune hypophysitis: knowledge and uncertainties on pathophysiological and clinical aspects

PURPOSE

This publication reviews the accepted knowledges and the findings still discussed on several features of autoimmune hypophysitis, including the most recently described forms, such as IgG4 and cancer immunotherapy- related hypophysitis.

METHODS

The most characteristic findings and the pending controversies were derived from a literature review and previous personal experiences. A single paragraph focused on some atypical examples of the disease presenting under confounding pretences.

RESULTS

Headache, visual field alterations and impaired pituitary secretion are the most frequent clinical findings of the disease. Pituitary biopsy, still considered the gold diagnostic standard, does not always receive consent from the patients. The role of magnetic resonance imaging is limited, as this disease may generate images similar to those of other diseases. The role of antipituitary and antihypothalamus antibodies is still discussed owing to methodological difficulties and also because the findings on the true pituitary antigen(s) are still debated. However, the low sensitivity and specificity of immunofluorescence, one of the more widely employed methods to detect these antibodies, may be improved, considering a predetermined cut-off titre and a particular kind of immunostaining.

CONCLUSION

Autoimmune hypophysitis is a multifaceted disease, which may certainly be diagnosed by pituitary biopsy. However, the possible different clinical, laboratory and imaging features must be considered by the physician to avoid a misdiagnosis when examining a possibly affected patient. Therapeutic choice has to be made taking into account the clinical conditions and the degree of hypothalamic-pituitary involvement, but also considering that spontaneous remissions can occur.

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for fertility preservation in a large cohort of young girls: focus on pubertal development

STUDY QUESTION

Is there an association between the need for medical puberty induction and the diagnosis or treatment received in girls who have undergone cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for fertility preservation?

SUMMARY ANSWER

There was a clear association between the intensity of treatment received and requirement for medical puberty induction but no association with the diagnosis.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Although it cannot be predicted which girls will become infertile or develop premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) following intensive chemotherapy or irradiation, patients who are at high risk of POI should be offered ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). This includes girls who are planned to receive either high doses of alkylating agents, conditioning regimen before stem cell transplantation (SCT), total body irradiation (TBI) or high radiation doses to the craniospinal, abdominal or pelvic area.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This is a retrospective cohort study. In total, 176 Danish girls under 18 years of age have had OTC performed over a period of 15 years. An overview of the girls' diagnoses and mean age at OTC as well as the number of deceased is presented. Of the 176 girls, 38 had died and 46 girls were still younger than 12 years so their pubertal development cannot be evaluated yet. For the 60 girls who had OTC performed after 12 years of age, the incidence of POI was evaluated and in the group of 32 girls who were younger than 12 years at OTC, the association between the diagnosis and received treatment and the requirement for medical puberty induction was examined.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The need for medical puberty induction was assessed in 32 girls who were prepubertal at the time of OTC.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Indications for OTC were allogeneic SCT for leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome or benign haematological disorders, autologous SCT for lymphoma or sarcoma, and irradiation to the pelvis or to the spinal axis. The mean age at OTC of the 176 girls were 11.3 years. The two most prevalent diagnoses of the 176 girls were malignant tumours and malignant haematological diseases. Among the 32 prepubertal girls, 12 received high dose chemotherapy and either TBI prior to SCT or irradiation to the pelvis, abdomen or the spinal axis, 13 received high dose alkylating agents but no irradiation prior to SCT, six received alkylating agents as part of conventional chemotherapy and one patient had a genetic metabolic disorder and did not receive gonadotoxic treatment. Among these 32 girls, 23 did not undergo puberty spontaneously and thus received medical puberty induction. Among the nine girls, who went through spontaneous puberty, four had received high dose alkylating agents and five had received conventional chemotherapy.

LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION

All information was retrieved retrospectively from patient records, and thus some information was not available.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

OTC should be recommended to all young girls, who present a high risk of developing ovarian insufficiency and/or infertility following high dose chemotherapy and/or irradiation.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

The Childhood Cancer Foundation (2012-2016) and the EU interregional project ReproHigh are thanked for having funded this study. They had no role in the study design, collection and analysis of the data or writing of the report. The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Metabolic Health in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Longitudinal Study in a Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic

PURPOSE

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction as a late effect of cancer treatment. However, pediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS) lacks a unified definition, limiting the diagnosis of MetS in CCS. This study evaluated individual metabolic health risk factors and potential areas for intervention in this at-risk population.

METHODS

This single center, retrospective observational longitudinal study evaluated the metabolic health of all CCS attending an oncology long-term follow-up clinic at a university hospital in Sydney, Australia (January 2012-August 2014). Participants were 276 CCS (52.2% male; mean age 18.0 years; range 6.8-37.9 years), at least 5 years disease free with a broad spectrum of oncological diagnoses. Primary metabolic health risk factors included raised body mass index, hypertension, and hypertransaminasemia. Participants treated with cranial radiotherapy (n = 47; 17.0% of cohort) had additional biochemical variables analyzed: fasting glucose/insulin, HDL/LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

RESULTS

Hypertension was common (19.0%), with male sex (p < 0.01) and being aged 18 years or above (p < 0.01) identified as risk factors. Cranial irradiation was a risk factor for overweight/obesity (47.8% in cranial radiotherapy-treated participants vs. 30.4%; p = 0.02). Hypertransaminasemia was more prevalent among participants treated with radiotherapy (15.6% vs. 7.3%; p = 0.03), and overweight/obese participants (17.6% vs. 8.2%; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Metabolic health risk factors comprising MetS are common in CCS, placing this population at risk of premature adverse cardiovascular consequences. Proactive surveillance and targeted interventions are required to minimize these metabolic complications, and a unified definition for pediatric MetS would improve identification and monitoring.

Screening and management of adverse endocrine outcomes in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer

5 year survival for childhood and adolescent cancer in developed countries is now in excess of 80% and the number of survivors of cancer continues to increase worldwide. After completion of therapy, many of these survivors will face a lifelong risk of endocrine late effects. We summarise the available evidence related to the prevalence and risk factors for endocrine late effects among adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. Present screening, surveillance, and treatment recommendations differ by country and region, so we also highlight the continued effort to harmonise the international guidelines for this population.