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Verdonck-de Leeuw IM, Melissant H, Lissenberg-Witte BI, Baatenburg de Jong RJ, den Heijer M, Langendijk JA, René Leemans C, Smit JH, Takes RP, Terhaard CHJ, Jansen F, Laan E. Associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients before and six months after treatment: A pilot study. Oral Oncol 2021; 121:105505. [PMID: 34461364 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences & Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Heleen Melissant
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Birgit I Lissenberg-Witte
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert J Baatenburg de Jong
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin den Heijer
- Department of Internal Medicine, AmsterdamUMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes A Langendijk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - C René Leemans
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes H Smit
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert P Takes
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chris H J Terhaard
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Femke Jansen
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen Laan
- Department of Sexology and Psychosomatic OBGYN, Amsterdam Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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