Treatment for testicular cancer with chemotherapy (RR 2.59), radiotherapy (RR 2.40), or both (RR 2.78) was associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events versus surgery alone.
Cohort (n=992)
Yes
Does treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy increase the risk of cardiovascular events in long-term survivors of testicular cancer compared to orchidectomy alone?
Long-term survivors of testicular cancer treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both have a more than two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to those treated with orchidectomy alone, independent of traditional cardiac risk factors.
Effect estimate: RR 2.59 (chemotherapy), RR 2.40 (radiotherapy), RR 2.78 (both) (95% CI 1.15-5.84 (chemotherapy), 1.04-5.45 (radiotherapy), 1.09-7.07 (both))
p-value: p=0.022 (chemotherapy), 0.036 (radiotherapy), 0.032 (both)
PURPOSE: To assess the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and cardiac risk factors in long-term survivors of testicular cancer according to treatment received. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All resident male patients registered in the United Kingdom between 1982 and 1992 attending for follow-up were eligible for recruitment. Patients completed a current health questionnaire and underwent clinical review, along with hematologic, biochemical, and hormonal profiles. For patients not under routine review, follow-up information was sought from their general practitioner and mortality data were sought from the Office of National Statistics. Descriptive analysis was performed on all variables and comparisons were made among patients treated by orchidectomy and follow-up only, chemotherapy alone (C), radiotherapy alone (RT), and radiotherapy and chemotherapy (C/RT). RESULTS: Data on cardiovascular events were available on 992 patients. After a median follow-up of 10.2 years, 68 events had been reported, including 18 deaths. After adjusting for age, increased risk for cardiac events was seen after C (relative risk RR = 2.59; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.15 to 5.84; P =.022), RT (RR = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.04 to 5.45; P =.036), and C/RT (RR = 2.78; 95% CI, 1.09 to 7.07; P =.032). There were no significant differences in cardiac risk factors. On multivariate analysis, age, treatment group, free thyroxine, protein, and magnesium levels were associated with cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: In long-term survivors of testicular cancer, we observed a two-fold or greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This was not due to increases in cardiac risk factors, which suggests a direct or indirect treatment effect. These data support the continued research into the minimization of treatment in good-prognosis testicular cancer.
Huddart et al. (2003) conducted a cohort in Testicular cancer (n=992). Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both vs. Orchidectomy and follow-up only was evaluated on Cardiovascular events (RR 2.59 (chemotherapy), RR 2.40 (radiotherapy), RR 2.78 (both), 95% CI 1.15-5.84 (chemotherapy), 1.04-5.45 (radiotherapy), 1.09-7.07 (both), p=0.022 (chemotherapy), 0.036 (radiotherapy), 0.032 (both)). Treatment for testicular cancer with chemotherapy (RR 2.59), radiotherapy (RR 2.40), or both (RR 2.78) was associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events versus surgery alone.