Trial Outcomes & Findings for Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Females With Rectal Cancer (NCT NCT01216189)

NCT ID: NCT01216189

Last Updated: 2021-04-09

Results Overview

Fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline visit (prior to oncological treatment) and 1 year follow-up. Participants treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) had an additional blood sample taken the day before surgery. Serum testosterone levels (T) were measured with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using the LC-MS/MS Quattro Premier Xevo TQ MS (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA). The total coefficients of variation (CVtot) were 7% at 2.8 nmol/L and 6% at 15 nmol/L.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

142 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, the week before surgery and 1 year after surgery.

Results posted on

2021-04-09

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited from five Swedish outpatient rectal cancer centres in Sweden (Karolinska University Hospital, Ersta Hospital, Örebro University Hospital, Linköping University Hospital and Norrköping Hospital) between June 2008 and August 2013. Of 404 women with rectal cancer assessed for eligibility, 142 were included in the study.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Preoperative Radiotherapy
Women with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative Radiotherapy
Women with rectal cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Overall Study
STARTED
110
32
Overall Study
COMPLETED
85
27
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
25
5

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Preoperative Radiotherapy
Women with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative Radiotherapy
Women with rectal cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
21
3
Overall Study
Death
4
2

Baseline Characteristics

Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Females With Rectal Cancer

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=110 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=32 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Total
n=142 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
62 years
n=99 Participants
69 years
n=107 Participants
65.5 years
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
110 Participants
n=99 Participants
32 Participants
n=107 Participants
142 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
BMI
24.2 kg/m2
n=99 Participants
24.4 kg/m2
n=107 Participants
24.3 kg/m2
n=206 Participants
ASA score
I
35 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
42 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
II
58 Participants
n=99 Participants
13 Participants
n=107 Participants
71 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
III
16 Participants
n=99 Participants
9 Participants
n=107 Participants
25 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
Missing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Tumour distance from anal verge
0-4 cm
45 Participants
n=99 Participants
4 Participants
n=107 Participants
49 Participants
n=206 Participants
Tumour distance from anal verge
5-10 cm
40 Participants
n=99 Participants
14 Participants
n=107 Participants
54 Participants
n=206 Participants
Tumour distance from anal verge
11-15 cm
23 Participants
n=99 Participants
12 Participants
n=107 Participants
35 Participants
n=206 Participants
Tumour distance from anal verge
Missing
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of preoperative RT
Short course (5Gy x5)
73 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
73 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of preoperative RT
Long course (2 Gy x25 or 1.8 x28)
37 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
37 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of preoperative RT
No RT
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
32 Participants
n=107 Participants
32 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of Surgery
Anterior resection
54 Participants
n=99 Participants
20 Participants
n=107 Participants
74 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of Surgery
Abdominal excision
53 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
61 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of Surgery
No abdominal surgery
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Type of Surgery
Missing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants
Resection of gynaecological organs
Hysterectomy
13 Participants
n=99 Participants
5 Participants
n=107 Participants
18 Participants
n=206 Participants
Resection of gynaecological organs
Unilateral/bilateral oophorectomy
16 Participants
n=99 Participants
4 Participants
n=107 Participants
20 Participants
n=206 Participants
Resection of gynaecological organs
Partial vaginal resection
9 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
9 Participants
n=206 Participants
Resection of gynaecological organs
No resection
71 Participants
n=99 Participants
21 Participants
n=107 Participants
92 Participants
n=206 Participants
Resection of gynaecological organs
Missing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
0
10 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
11 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
I
24 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
32 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
II
29 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
35 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
III
39 Participants
n=99 Participants
13 Participants
n=107 Participants
52 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
IV
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
5 Participants
n=206 Participants
Pathological tumour stage
Missing
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
7 Participants
n=206 Participants
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Yes
35 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
36 Participants
n=206 Participants
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
No
74 Participants
n=99 Participants
29 Participants
n=107 Participants
103 Participants
n=206 Participants
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Missing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Yes
36 Participants
n=99 Participants
9 Participants
n=107 Participants
45 Participants
n=206 Participants
Adjuvant chemotherapy
No
73 Participants
n=99 Participants
21 Participants
n=107 Participants
94 Participants
n=206 Participants
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Missing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, the week before surgery and 1 year after surgery.

Population: 17 of the included 142 participants were excluded due to history of oophorectomy, resulting in 125 participants analysed. Participants in the group "No preoperative radiotherapy" had no blood samples taken at the time point "After RT/before surgery".

Fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline visit (prior to oncological treatment) and 1 year follow-up. Participants treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) had an additional blood sample taken the day before surgery. Serum testosterone levels (T) were measured with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using the LC-MS/MS Quattro Premier Xevo TQ MS (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA). The total coefficients of variation (CVtot) were 7% at 2.8 nmol/L and 6% at 15 nmol/L.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=98 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=27 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and 1 Year After Surgery.
Baseline
0.6 nmol/l
Interval 0.1 to 3.6
0.6 nmol/l
Interval 0.2 to 4.8
Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and 1 Year After Surgery.
After RT/before surgery
0.6 nmol/l
Interval 0.2 to 3.8
Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and 1 Year After Surgery.
1 year after surgery
0.5 nmol/l
Interval 0.1 to 2.3
0.6 nmol/l
Interval 0.2 to 1.3

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 1 year after surgery and 2 years after surgery.

Population: Of the 142 participants included in the study, 3 were excluded due to not answering FSFI questionnaires at any timepoint. Total FSFI scores were only calculated for available questionnaires without missing items.

Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The FSFI questionnaire is a 19-item multiple-choice, self-assessment tool validated for use in the general population as well as for patients with cancer. It covers six domains of sexual function in women; desire (2 items), arousal (4 items), lubrication (4 items), orgasm (3 items), satisfaction (3 items) and pain (3 items). Items scores between 0 or 1 to 5, with lower scores indicating worse function. A total FSFI score can be calculated when all items are completed. Minimal total score is 4 points and maximal score is 95 points, with lower scores indicating worse function. A total FSFI score of less than 26.55 points was used to define overall sexual dysfunction.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=109 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative Radiotherapy
n=30 Participants
Women with rectal cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Change in Sexual Function (Total FSFI Scores) Between Baseline and 2 Years Follow-up.
Baseline
18.5 score on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 36.0
6.7 score on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 30.7
Change in Sexual Function (Total FSFI Scores) Between Baseline and 2 Years Follow-up.
1 year after surgery
11.1 score on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 34.5
5.8 score on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 33.3
Change in Sexual Function (Total FSFI Scores) Between Baseline and 2 Years Follow-up.
2 years after surgery
10.8 score on a scale
Interval 2.0 to 34.8
6.5 score on a scale
Interval 2.3 to 31.7

Adverse Events

Preoperative RT

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 4 deaths

No Preoperative RT

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 2 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Professor Anna Martling

Karolinska Institutet

Phone: +46851770000

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place