Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Males With Rectal Cancer

Preoperative radiotherapy and pelvic surgery is recommended to many patients with rectal cancer. For men there are theoretical reasons to believe that the treatment may effect hormone levels, spermatogenesis, sexual function and wellbeing. To address these questions a longitudinal observational study was initiated where measurements of androgen hormone levels, semen samples and sexual function were assessed before treatment (baseline) and during a follow-up period of two years.

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Key information

Conditions

Rectal Cancer Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Rectal Diseases Rectal Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

About this study

Men with rectal cancer stage I to III planned for resection was included in the study. Men treated with preoperative RT were assigned to the exposed group and men treated with surgery alone were assigned to the unexposed group. Eighteen months after start of inclusion, less than 10% of the participants were treated with surgery alone. To increase the sample size of the unexposed group, men with prostate cancer stage I to III and scheduled for robot-assisted prostatectomy were also included.

Participants with rectal cancer were enrolled at two centres in Stockholm (Karolinska University Hospital and Ersta Hospital) between 2010 and 2014. Participants with prostate cancer were enrolled at the Urology department of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm between 2012 and 2013.

Patient data, fasting venous blood samples, semen samples and questionnaires regarding sexual function and well being were collected before start of oncological treatment (baseline), 1 and 2 years after surgery. Men treated with preoperative RT for rectal cancer had an additional venous blood sample during the week before surgery. Men with rectal cancer under 55 years of age were offered semen cryopreservation.

Participants could choose if they wanted to participate in one, two or three of the following parts; hormone analysis, semen analysis and/ or questionnaires regarding sexual function and well being. Semen sampling and cryopreservation was not performed in men with prostate cancer.

Changes in hormone levels, semen measurements and sexual function during follow-up were assessed, and compared between exposed and unexposed participants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Males diagnosed with rectal cancer stadium I-III, planned for surgery with or without preoperative radiotherapy or males with prostate cancer stadium I-III planned for robot-assisted prostatectomy without preoperative radiotherapy.
Informed consent
Fluent in Swedish
Residents of the Stockholm county area

Exclusion criteria

Rectal cancer stadium IV
Previous radiotherapy to the pelvic region
History or evidence of a second pelvic malignancy
Androgen deprivation therapy, Testosterone replacement or Androgen abuse

Treatment and study plan

preoperative radiotherapy

Radiation

Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) was administered as either short course (5Gy x5) or long-course (2Gy x25 or 1.8 Gy x25 with or without 3 fractions of boost to the primary tumor and radiologically malignant lymph nodes) treatment with or without concomitant or sequential chemotherapy. Oncological treatment was decided at a multidisciplinary team conference.

Testicular doses (TDs) was calculated from planning CT-scans and reported as mean cumulative testicular dose. Relative TD was calculated based in the assumption that RT regimens for rectal cancer are bioequivalent and referred to as proportion of prescribed dose absorbed by the testes.

Primary outcomes

Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and After Preoperative Radiotherapy.

Time frame: Baseline and after RT/before surgery.

Fasting morning venous blood samples were collected at baseline, eg prior to oncological treatment. Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) had a second blood sample taken afte RT and before surgery, collected the week before surgery and defined as "after RT/before surgery". Elapsed time between start of RT and the second blood sample was median 38 days, ranging from 3 to 195 days depending on the type of preoperative oncological treatment regimen. Testosterone (T) was analysed at the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska University Hospital, using commercial assays.
Change in Total Number of Sperms Per Ejaculate Between Baseline and Two Year Follow-up.

Time frame: Baseline, 1 and 2 years after surgery.

Semen samples were collected at the Department of Reproductive Medicine of Karolinska University Hospital after 72h of sexual abstinence and analysed according to World Health Organization 2010 standard. Total number of sperms (million spermatozoa per ejaculate), was calculated by multiplying sperm concentration (million spermatozoa per millilitre semen) with semen volume (milliliter semen/ejaculate). Total number of sperms below 39 million per ejaculate was defined as oligospermia, and 0 million per ejaculate was defined as azoospermia. Semen samples were only collected in men with rectal cancer, not prostate cancer.
Sexual Function

Time frame: 2 years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Karolinska Institutet

Other

Collaborators

Swedish Cancer Society

Registry information

Official study title

Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Males Diagnosed With Rectal Cancer

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2014
Study completion: 2016
First posted: Oct 7, 2010
Registry last updated: Oct 4, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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