TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients before and six months after treatment
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma M.
AU - Melissant, Heleen
AU - Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I.
AU - Baatenburg de Jong, Robert J.
AU - den Heijer, Martin
AU - Langendijk, Johannes A.
AU - René Leemans, C.
AU - Smit, Johannes H.
AU - Takes, Robert P.
AU - Terhaard, Chris H.J.
AU - Jansen, Femke
AU - Laan, Ellen
N1 - Funding Information: This project was granted by the Dutch Cancer Society, grant number VU 2013-5930. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10/1
Y1 - 2021/10/1
N2 - Objectives: To investigate associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual problems and need for sexual care in head and neck cancer patients at time of diagnosis and 6 months after treatment. Patients and methods: Data and samples were used of 40 patients (20 men, 20 women) before and 6 months after treatment. Outcome measures were total testosterone level (TT) and free testosterone index (FTI), testosterone insufficiency (TI), the EORTC QLQ-HN35 Sexuality subscale, the subscales of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Sexuality subscale of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34). Results: In men, higher FTI before treatment was significantly associated with better IIEF Orgasm (p = 0.020) and at 6 months follow-up with IIEF Desire (p = 0.019). Before treatment, insufficient testosterone was present in 5 males (25%) and in 3 at follow-up (15%) (2 patients who had TI before treatment plus one). In women, higher TT at follow-up was significantly associated with better EORTC Sexuality (p = 0.031) and FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.020); FTI at follow-up was associated with FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.012). Before treatment, TI was present in 2 women (10%) and in 3 (15%) at follow-up (the same 2 patients plus one). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that testosterone seems to be associated with patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients. It is estimated that 10–25% of HNC patients may have testosterone insufficiency before treatment and/or at 6 months after treatment.
AB - Objectives: To investigate associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual problems and need for sexual care in head and neck cancer patients at time of diagnosis and 6 months after treatment. Patients and methods: Data and samples were used of 40 patients (20 men, 20 women) before and 6 months after treatment. Outcome measures were total testosterone level (TT) and free testosterone index (FTI), testosterone insufficiency (TI), the EORTC QLQ-HN35 Sexuality subscale, the subscales of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Sexuality subscale of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34). Results: In men, higher FTI before treatment was significantly associated with better IIEF Orgasm (p = 0.020) and at 6 months follow-up with IIEF Desire (p = 0.019). Before treatment, insufficient testosterone was present in 5 males (25%) and in 3 at follow-up (15%) (2 patients who had TI before treatment plus one). In women, higher TT at follow-up was significantly associated with better EORTC Sexuality (p = 0.031) and FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.020); FTI at follow-up was associated with FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.012). Before treatment, TI was present in 2 women (10%) and in 3 (15%) at follow-up (the same 2 patients plus one). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that testosterone seems to be associated with patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients. It is estimated that 10–25% of HNC patients may have testosterone insufficiency before treatment and/or at 6 months after treatment.
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Sex hormones
KW - Sexual problems
KW - Sexuality
KW - Supportive care
KW - Testosterone
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105505
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105505
M3 - Article
C2 - 34461364
SN - 1368-8375
VL - 121
SP - 1
EP - 5
JO - Oral Oncology
JF - Oral Oncology
M1 - 105505
ER -
