Influence of growth hormone therapy on the occurrence of a second neoplasm in survivors of childhood cancer. Issue 4 (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas-Teinturier, Cécile; Oliver-Petit, Isabelle; Pacquement, Helene; Fresneau, Brice; Allodji, Rodrigue Sétchéou; Veres, Cristina; Bolle, Stephanie; Berchery, Delphine; Demoor-Goldschmidt, Charlotte; Haddy, Nadia; Diallo, Ibrahima; de Vathaire, Florent
• Is Part Of: European journal of endocrinology. Volume 183:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 471
• Page End: 480
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Endocrinology -- Periodicals; 616.4005
• DOI: 10.1530/EJE-20-0369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0804-4643

Abstract

Abstract : Context: : Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a common late effect of cranial irradiation. However, concerns have been raised that GH treatment might lead to an increased risk of a second neoplasm (SN). Objective: : To study the impact of GH treatment on the risk of SN in a French cohort of survivors of childhood cancer (CCS) treated before 1986. Design and setting: : Cohort study and nested case–control study. Participants: : Of the 2852 survivors, with a median follow-up of 26 years, 196 had received GH therapy (median delay from cancer diagnosis: 5.5 years). Main outcome measures: : Occurrence of SN Results: : In total, 374 survivors developed a SN, including 40 who had received GH therapy. In a multivariate analysis, GH treatment did not increase the risk of secondary non-meningioma brain tumors (RR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.2–1.5, P = 0.3), secondary non-brain cancer (RR: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.4–1.2, P = 0.2), or meningioma (RR: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.9–4, P = 0.09). Nevertheless, we observed a slight non-significant increase in the risk of meningioma with GH duration: 1.6-fold (95% CI: 1.2–3.0) after an exposure of less than 4 years vs 2.3-fold (95% CI: 0.9–5.6) after a longer exposure ( P for trend = 0.07) confirmed by the results of a case–control study. Conclusion: : This study confirms the overall safety of GH use in survivors of childhood cancer, which does not increase the risk of a SN. The slight excess in the risk of meningioma in patients with long-term GH treatment is non-significant and could be due to difficulties in adjustment on cranial radiation volume/dose and/or undiagnosed meningioma predisposing conditions.