LONG-TERM EVOLUTION OF SERUM-LIPIDS AND B ODY-MASS INDEX IN MALES WITH TESTICULAR-CARCINOMA TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY

Objective. To evaluate whether males with testicular cancer treated wi th chemotherapy including cisplatin (Qt-C) develop an increase in seru m cholesterol and triglyceride levels and in the body mass index (BMI) , which might pose a cardiovascular risk. Patients and methods. Fifty- six male patients with the previous diagnosis of testicular carcinoma, and apparently cured now, were studied; Thirty-six were Qt-C treated. The median age was 28 years and the median follow-up 81 months. The o ther 20 patients, with testicular cancer stage I and who did not requi re Qt-C, did not differ in mean age nor in the median of follow-up. Tw enty healthy males were also studied, and their cholesterol and trigly ceride levels and BMI were compared with those in patients treated wit h Qt-C at the end of follow-up; both group were of similar age. In all patients (prior to diagnosis and yearly up to the end of the study) a nd in healthy subjects total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured, as well as BMI (weight/height(2)). Results. Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and BMI were not different at diagnosis of testicular cancer, both in patients treated with Qt-C and those not re ceiving such therapy. When comparing yearly cholesterol and triglyceri de levels in both groups of patients during the first 6 years of evolu tion, no significant differences were observed. Again, no differences were observed between patients treated and not treated with Qt-C at th e end of the follow-up period regarding cholesterol(211 +/- 41 vs 219 +/- 44 mg/dl; p = 0.51), triglyceride (128 +/- 57 vs 129 +/- 51 mg/dl; p = 0.94) and BMI (25.7 +/- 3.3 us 25.5 +/- 3.4 kg/m(2); p = 0.86) va lues. No significant differences were observed in the three parameters between parameters in patients treated with Qt-C at the end of follow -up and in healthy males. Conclusions. In males with testicular cancer treated with Qt-C, no long term increase in cholesterol, triglyceride , and BMI values was detected, which might predispose to the developme nt of cardiovascular diseases.