Growth Hormone Deficiency in Childhood Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor Survivors

Lone DW, Sadak KT, Miller BS, Sample JM, Hubbard AK, Wolter C, Roesler M, Nuno M, Poynter JN. Growth Hormone Deficiency in Childhood Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor Survivors. J Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jun;12(3):79-88. doi: 10.14740/jem807. Epub 2022 Jun 27. PubMed PMID: 36249955; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9555288.

Intracranial germ cell tumor (iGCT) survivors have multiple risk factors for growth hormone (GH) deficiency, a commonly reported late effect in childhood cancer survivors. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of GH deficiency among childhood iGCT survivors. Participants were previously enrolled in the Germ Cell Tumor Epidemiology Study (GaMETES), a case parent triad study conducted using the Children’s Oncology Group registry protocols, including 216 cases with iGCTs. Data on late effects and outcomes are available for 129 iGCT cases who consented for a follow-up study including a self-administered questionnaire and medical record retrieval. GH deficiency was identified via self-report and validated through medical record review. Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests were used to examine cases with GH deficiency predating iGCT detection. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of GH deficiency as a late effect.