It has been suggested based on familial data that Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) heterozygotes have an increased risk of malignant tumors. We found 15 carriers of the 657del5 mutation and 8 carriers of the R215W molecular variant of the NBS1 gene among 1,289 consecutive patients from Central Poland with various cancers and only 10 and 4 such carriers, respectively, in 1,620 controls from this region. Most of the 657del5 mutation carriers were found among patients with melanoma (4/105), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (2/ 42) and breast cancer (4/224) and of the 234 patients with colorectal carcinoma 3 carried the 657del5 mutation and 3 others the R215W molecular variant. The frequencies of 657del5 mutation carriers among patients with melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and of R215W carriers in patients with colorectal cancer were significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.01, < 0.05 and < 0.05 respectively). The pooled frequencies of 657del5 and R215W mutations in all cancer patients were also significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.05). Two carriers of the 657del5 mutation had second primary tumors. Malignant tumors among parents and siblings of 657del5 mutation carriers (14/77) were twice more frequent than in population controls. Three carriers of this mutation (2 probands with melanoma) reported melanoma in relatives. These results suggest strongly that NBS1 heterozygosity may be associated with elevated risk of some cancers. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the impact of the high frequency of germline NBS1 mutations on the cancer burden in the Slav populations. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: NBS1 gene; heterozygous mutation carriers; 657del5 mutation; R215W molecular variant; cancer riskThe chromosomal instability disorder, Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), is characterized by microcephaly, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity to X-irradiation and increased predisposition to lymphoid malignancy. 1 The gene mutated in NBS was identified in 1998. [2][3][4] Nibrin, the product of the NBS1 gene, is part of the MRE11/RAD50 complex, which is involved in the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Double strand breaks are not only induced by mutagens but are also intermediates of DNA processing in immune gene rearrangements, the maintenance of telomeres, and in meiotic recombination. Nibrin is involved in the processing of all these types of DSBs. 2 This explains the complex NBS phenotype, including the very high incidence of lymphomas and other malignant tumors, which are the major cause of deaths among NBS patients already during childhood and adolescence. 5 The majority of NBS patients are of Central and Eastern European origin and share the common founder mutation in the NBS1 gene, 657del5. 6 NBS shares many clinical and cellular features with ataxiatelangiectasia (AT), and it was shown that they are also pathogenetically related. 7-10 Interestingly, the cancer risk in NBS1 homozygotes is higher than that of AT patients. 5 Heterozygous relatives of AT probands have an approximately 2...

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Adjuvant hormonotherapy enhances neither anxiety nor depression, does not impair cognitive function but has a negative effect on the patients' sexual function. It does not worsen self-rated quality of relationship and quality of life.

Testicular tumors and their treatment interfere with homeostasis, hormonal status included. The aim of the study was to evaluate hormonal disorders of the pituitary–gonadal axis in men treated for testicular tumors. One hundred twenty-eight men treated for a unilateral testicular tumor at our institution were included. The hormonal status was prospectively evaluated in 62 patients before orchiectomy, 120 patients 1 month after orchiectomy and 110 patients at least 1 year after the treatment. The concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), testosterone (T), estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin were measured. The clinically significant testosterone deficiency was defined either as testosterone <2.31 ng/mL or testosterone within the range of 2.31–3.46 ng/mL but simultaneous with T/LH ratio ≤1. Changes in hormone levels were significant: LH and FSH rose in the course of observation, and the concentration of hCG, testosterone, estradiol decreased. PRL concentration was the lowest at 1 month after orchiectomy. In multivariate analysis, the risk of the clinically significant testosterone deficiency was 0.2107 (95% CI 0.1206–0.3419) prior to orchiectomy, 0.3894 (95% CI 0.2983–0.4889) 1 month after surgery and 0.4972 (95% CI 0.3951–0.5995) 1 year after the treatment. The estradiol concentration was elevated in 40% of patients with recently diagnosed testicular cancer and that was correlated with a higher risk of testosterone deficiency after the treatment completion. Hormonal disorders of the pituitary–gonadal axis in men treated for testicular tumors are frequent. The malignant tissue triggers paraneoplastic disorders that additionally disturb the hormonal equilibrium.