Does cisplatin-based chemotherapy effect on blood lipid levels of patients with germ cell testicular tumor in long-term follow-up?

Abstract

Purpose: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment for germ cell testicular tumors. However, long-term complications of this treatment have gained importance, and hypercholesterolemia is one of these. In some studies, hypercholesterolemia is reported following the cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the relationship of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and blood lipid levels in long-term survivors of patients with germ cell testicular tumors.

Patients and methods: A total of 89 testicular cancer patients were evaluated between December 1989 and December 2001. Of these, while 39 received cisplatin-based chemotherapy (Group 1), the remaining control group of 50 testicular cancer patients (Group 2) had no adjuvant treatment. The patients in both groups had at least 5-year follow-up and had no known cardiovascular disease. Fasting lipid profiles were obtained including total cholesterol, triglyceride, low- and high-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein. These values were compared with the normal range, and the statistical difference between the two groups was evaluated. Student's t test was used for continuous variables, and P < 0.05 was accepted as significant.

Results: Groups 1 and 2 had 39 and 50 cases, respectively. Mean follow-up period for Group 1 was 110 months (60-187) and 107 months (60-282) for Group 2. Mean total cholesterol in Groups 1 and 2 was 199.5 ± 44.1 mg/dl and 210.3 ± 41 mg/dl (P = 0.398), mean triglyceride 189.9 ± 131.0 mg/dl and 156.6 ± 105.5 mg/dl (P = 0.334), mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 38.3 ± 7.3 and 41.6 ± 10.9 mg/dl (P = 0.242), respectively, while very low density lipoprotein cholesterol was 38.2 ± 22.1 and 34.6 ± 26.7 mg/dl (P = 0.621). The only difference between the two groups was the low-density lipoprotein levels. The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 116.6 ± 51.7 and 141.9 ± 28.1 mg/dl (P = 0.036), respectively.

Conclusion: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in germ cell testicular tumors did not have long-term negative effect on blood lipid levels.