Early development of the metabolic syndrome after chemotherapy for testicular cancer.

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in testicular cancer (TC) survivors. We investigated its prevalence, development, vascular implications, and the role of gonadal function.

Methods: TC survivors treated with chemotherapy and follow-up ≥3 years (N = 370, study I) were retrospectively evaluated for the development of cardiovascular risk factors.

Association of PAI-1 gene polymorphism with survival and chemotherapy-related vascular toxicity in testicular cancer.

Background: High Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) expression by tumors has been associated with poor prognosis in several cancer types, and high systemic PAI-1 levels with increased thrombosis risk. The authors investigated whether the germline 4G/5G deletion/insertion polymorphism in the PAI-1 promoter (rs1799889), which may influence PAI-1 expression, is associated with survival and chemotherapy-related vascular toxicity in testicular cancer (TC).

Methods: Data were collected on PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism, survival, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and coronary heart disease (CHD) for 324 non-seminomatous TC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

The metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors.

The metabolic syndrome, as a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, may represent an important connection between cancer treatment and its common late effect of cardiovascular disease. Insight into the aetiology of the metabolic syndrome after cancer treatment might help to identify and treat cancer survivors with increased cardiovascular risk. In this review, we summarise current knowledge on the prevalence and pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors, and discuss current intervention strategies with an emphasis on new developments.

Prevalence of paraneoplastic hyperthyroidism in patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ-cell tumors.

Background: Patients with elevated human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) can have hyperthyroidism. We assessed the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in patients presenting with disseminated non-seminomatous germ-cell tumors (NSGCT).

Patients And Methods: In all patients with metastatic NSGCT who started chemotherapy at our center from April 2001 to April 2007, thyroid function was analyzed.

Evaluation of sub-acute changes in cardiac function after cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for testicular cancer.

Long-term cardiovascular morbidity is increasingly observed in chemotherapy-treated testicular cancer survivors, but little is known of early sub-clinical changes in cardiac function. We prospectively evaluated cardiac function in testicular cancer patients by echocardiography. Systolic (Wall Motion Score Index) and diastolic (E/A-ratio and Tissue Velocity Imaging (TVI)) parameters, and serum levels of N-Terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) were assessed before the start of chemotherapy and 1 year later.