Open AccessVitamin D status among long-term survivors of testicular cancer
Author(s) -
Giuseppe Schepisi,
Silvia De Padova,
Emanuela Scarpi,
Cristian Lolli,
Giorgia Gurioli,
Cecilia Menna,
Salvatore Luca Burgio,
Lorena Rossi,
Valentina Gallà,
Valentina Casadio,
Samanta Salvi,
Vincenza Conteduca,
Ugo De Giorgi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oncotarget
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.373
H-Index - 127
ISSN - 1949-2553
DOI - 10.18632/oncotarget.14167
Subject(s) - medicine , testicular cancer , oncology , cancer , term (time) , vitamin d and neurology , physiology , physics , quantum mechanics
A correlation between disturbances in hormone levels and the onset of metabolic disorders has been reported in long-term survivors of testicular cancer (TC).We evaluated serum vitamin D levels and other biological parameters in a consecutive series of 61 long-term (≥3 years) unilateral TC survivors with a median a follow-up of 4 years and in a cohort of healthy males. Deficient vitamin D levels were observed in 10 (17%) of the 58 long-term unilateral TC survivors but were not reported in healthy males (p=.019, Fisher test). Median vitamin D levels were 18.6 ug/L in 58 assessable TC survivors and 23.6 ug/L in 40 healthy males (p=.031). In univariate logistic regression analysis, TC diagnosis was associated with inadequate levels of vitamin D (p=.047). Vitamin D levels were lower when follow-up was > 10 years, albeit this difference was not statistically significant (p=.074). Long-term (especially > 10 years) TC survivors may have difficulty maintaining optimal vitamin D levels. Larger studies are needed to better characterize vitamin D status and possible correlations with premature hormonal aging reported in long-term TC survivors.