SERUM LEVELS OF SEX-HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN AND ESTRADIOL IN PATIENTS WITH TESTICULAR CANCER

Summary— Serum testosterone (T), oestradiol (E‐2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in 84 orchiectomised testicular cancer patients before further treatment and 4 to 6 and 12 to 15 months after therapy. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to treatment: Group 1: cisplatin‐based chemotherapy (27 patients); Group 2. abdominal radiotherapy (32 patients); Group 3: no antiproliferative treatment (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) (25 patients). Between 4 and 6 months after antiproliferative treatment, particularly after chemotherapy, a reversible significant increase in E‐2 and SHBG was observed. Patients without antiproliferative treatment showed no significant changes in their comparable hormone levels; 15% of all normal T values were associated with elevated levels of SHBG and E‐2. Although the aetiology of these hormonal changes remains unknown, they may be related to the clinical symptoms of hypogonadism displayed by 10 to 30% of patients undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. © 1990 British Journal of Urology