Low-grade inflammation in survivors of childhood cancer and testicular cancer and its association with hypogonadism and metabolic risk factors.

BACKGROUND: In childhood (CCS) and testicular cancer (TCS) survivors, low-grade inflammation may represent a link between testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) and risk of metabolic syndrome. We aimed to study levels of inflammatory markers in CCS and TCS and the association with hypogonadism and future cardio-metabolic risk factors. METHODS: Serum levels of inflammatory markers and testosterone were analyzed in CCS (n = 90), and TCS (n = 64, median time from diagnosis: 20 and 2.0 years, respectively), and in controls (n = 44). Differences in levels between patients and controls were calculated using univariate analysis of variance. T-test and logistic regression were applied to compare levels of cardio-metabolic risk factors and odds ratio (OR) of hypogonadism and metabolic syndrome in low and high inflammatory marker groups after 4-12 years of follow up. Adjustment for age, smoking, and active cancer was made. RESULTS: TCS and CCS, as compared to controls, had 1.44 (95%CI 1.06-1.96) and 1.25 (95 CI 1.02-1.53) times higher levels of IL-8, respectively. High IL-6 levels were associated with hypogonadism at baseline (OR 2.83, 95%CI 1.25-6.43) and the association was stronger for high IL-6 combined with low IL-10 levels (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.37-7.01). High IL-6 levels were also associated with higher BMI, waist circumference, insulin, and HbA1c at follow up. High TNF-α was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure. No individual inflammatory marker was significantly associated with risk of metabolic syndrome at follow up. High IL-6 combined with low IL-10 levels were associated with risk of metabolic syndrome (OR 3.83, 95%CI 1.07-13.75), however not statistically significantly after adjustment. CONCLUSION: TCS and CCS present with low-grade inflammation. High IL-6 levels were associated with hypogonadism and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Low IL-10 levels might reinforce the IL-6 mediated risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Androgen receptor gene CAG and GGN repeat lengths as predictors of recovery of spermatogenesis following testicular germ cell cancer treatment.

Spermatogenesis is an androgen-regulated process that depends on the action of androgen receptor (AR). Sperm production may be affected in men treated for testicular cancer (TC), and it is important to identify the factors influencing the timing of spermatogenesis recovery following cancer treatment. It is known that the CAG and GGN repeat numbers affect the activity of the AR; therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate if the CAG and GGN polymorphisms in the AR gene predict recovery of sperm production after TC treatment. TC patients (n = 130) delivered ejaculates at the following time points: postorchiectomy and at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months posttherapy (T0, T6, T12, T24, T36, and T60). The CAG lengths were categorized into three groups, <22 CAG, 22-23 CAG, and >23 CAG, and the GGN tracts were also categorized into three groups, <23 GGN, 23 GGN, and >23 GGN. At T12, men with 22-23 CAG presented with a statistically significantly (P = 0.045) lower sperm concentration than those with other CAG numbers (8.4 × 106 ml-1 vs 16 × 106 ml-1 ; 95% CI: 1.01-2.65). This association was robust to omitting adjustment for treatment type and sperm concentration at T0 (P = 0.021; 3.7 × 106 ml-1 vs 10 × 106 ml-1 ; 95% CI: 1.13-4.90). The same trends were observed for total sperm number. The least active AR variant seems to be associated with a more rapid recovery of spermatogenesis. This finding adds to our understanding of the biology of postcancer therapy recovery of fertility in males and has clinical implications.

High prevalence of hypogonadism and associated impaired metabolic and bone mineral status in subfertile men.

OBJECTIVE: It is yet unknown to which degree young subfertile men present with signs of hypogonadism and whether low testosterone concentration, like in older men, is associated with risk of osteoporosis and metabolic derangements in those subjects. The objective was therefore to investigate the prevalence of hypogonadism and its association with metabolic and bone parameters in young subfertile men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional case-control study. PATIENTS: Men from infertile couples (n = 192); 18-50 years; sperm concentration <20 × 10(6) /ml and population-based age-matched controls (n = 199). MEASUREMENTS: Blood sampling, anthropometrics, blood pressure, ankle-brachial index and assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were undertaken. Odds ratios of biochemical hypogonadism (total testosterone <8·0 nmol/l and/or luteinizing hormone ≥8·6 IU/l and/or ongoing androgen replacement therapy) were calculated. Serum concentrations of sex hormones, lipids, glucose, insulin and HbA1c were assessed and bone mineral density (BMD) evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the risk of hypogonadism was increased among subfertile men (OR 10; 95% CI, 5·1, 22), being highest in those with nonobstructive azoospermia. Hypogonadal men had higher HbA1c concentration (mean diff. 2·8 mmol/mol; 95% CI, 0·64, 4·9; P = 0·011) and lower lumbar spine BMD (mean diff. 0·05 g/cm(2) ; 95% CI, 0·01, 0·10; P = 0·032) compared to eugonadal subfertile men, even more pronounced in subfertile men with subnormal testosterone levels. CONCLUSION: Young subfertile men have 10 times increased OR of hypogonadism, which is linked to increased HbA1c and decreased bone mineralization. Endocrine assessment and, if needed, measures to prevent metabolic sequelae and osteoporosis should be included in the routine management of men from infertile couples.