Trial Outcomes & Findings for Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Males With Rectal Cancer (NCT NCT01216202)

NCT ID: NCT01216202

Last Updated: 2023-10-04

Results Overview

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.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

178 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and after RT/before surgery.

Results posted on

2023-10-04

Participant Flow

Participants with rectal cancer stage I to III planned for rectal resection eligible for the study were enrolled at a tertiary (Karolinska University Hospital) and secondary hospital (Ersta Hospital) in Stockholm during April 2010 and May 2014. Of 372 men with rectal cancer assessed for eligibility, 115 were included in the study.

18 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 (no preoperative radiotherapy), 63 men with prostate cancer I to III scheduled for robot assisted prostatectomy were included. Participants with prostate cancer were enrolled at the Urology department at Karolinska University Hospital between May 2012 and January 2013.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Preoperative RT
Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative RT
Men with rectal cancer or prostate cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Overall Study
STARTED
101
77
Overall Study
Analysed at Baseline
93
75
Overall Study
Analysed After RT
79
0
Overall Study
COMPLETED
79
75
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
22
2

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Preoperative RT
Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative RT
Men with rectal cancer or prostate cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
8
0
Overall Study
Death
0
2
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
14
0

Baseline Characteristics

Sexual Function and Wellbeing in Males With Rectal Cancer

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Preoperative RT
n=93 Participants
Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative RT
n=75 Participants
Men with rectal cancer or prostate cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Total
n=168 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
60.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.3 • n=99 Participants
63.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.7 • n=107 Participants
61.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.6 • n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
93 Participants
n=99 Participants
75 Participants
n=107 Participants
168 Participants
n=206 Participants
BMI
25.3 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.1 • n=99 Participants
26.4 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.0 • n=107 Participants
25.8 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.7 • n=206 Participants
ASA score
I
21 Participants
n=99 Participants
25 Participants
n=107 Participants
46 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
II
51 Participants
n=99 Participants
41 Participants
n=107 Participants
92 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
III
21 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
28 Participants
n=206 Participants
ASA score
Missing data
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative RT
Short course RT (5x5 Gy)
68 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
68 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative RT
Long course RT (1.8x28 Gy)
25 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
25 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative RT
No RT
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
75 Participants
n=107 Participants
75 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative chemotherapy
Concomitant chemotherapy
23 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
23 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative chemotherapy
Full dose chemotherapy
11 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
11 Participants
n=206 Participants
Preoperative chemotherapy
No chemotherapy
59 Participants
n=99 Participants
75 Participants
n=107 Participants
134 Participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and after RT/before surgery.

Population: For participants in "No preoperative RT", no blood samples were collected at the time point "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.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Preoperative RT
n=93 Participants
Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative RT
n=75 Participants
Men with rectal cancer or prostate cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and After Preoperative Radiotherapy.
Baseline
11.3 nmol/L
Standard Deviation 3.4
11.9 nmol/L
Standard Deviation 4.0
Change in Serum Testosterone Levels Between Baseline and After Preoperative Radiotherapy.
After RT/before surgery
9.3 nmol/L
Standard Deviation 3.5

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 1 and 2 years after surgery.

Population: Of the 115 men with rectal cancer included in the study, 21 men left at least one semen sample during the study period and was included in the analysis. 20 of 21 men had RT. In total 40 semen samples was analysed. During follow-up three participants with RT dropped out of the study. Number analysed at each time points represents number of available semen samples at each time point; 19 of 21 at baseline, 9 of 18 1 year after surgery, 12 of 18 2 year 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.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Preoperative RT
n=39 Semen samples
Men with rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery.
No Preoperative RT
n=1 Semen samples
Men with rectal cancer or prostate cancer treated with surgery alone (no RT).
Change in Total Number of Sperms Per Ejaculate Between Baseline and Two Year Follow-up.
Baseline
164.0 million spermatozoa per ejaculate
Interval 5.9 to 1140.0
Change in Total Number of Sperms Per Ejaculate Between Baseline and Two Year Follow-up.
1 year after surgery
3.15 million spermatozoa per ejaculate
Interval 0.0 to 216.0
0.0 million spermatozoa per ejaculate
Interval 0.0 to 0.0
Change in Total Number of Sperms Per Ejaculate Between Baseline and Two Year Follow-up.
2 years after surgery
32.6 million spermatozoa per ejaculate
Interval 0.0 to 187.0

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 2 years

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Preoperative RT

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

Anna Martling

Karolinska Institutet

Phone: +46851770000

Results disclosure agreements

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