Effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on prolactin levels of cancer patients in Enugu metropolis

Chemotherapy, a common treatment method for various cancers involves the use of cytotoxic drugs to eliminate cancer cells while radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation to target and kill cancer. Each of these methods has impact on endocrine function. This study investigated how prolactin levels vary among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combined chemo-radiotherapy in Enugu metropolis. A total of forty-nine [49] participants were recruited, comprising twenty-nine [29], 14 males and 15 female cancer patients undergoing either radiotherapy or chemotherapy and twenty [20] apparently healthy control subjects. Blood samples were collected, serum extracted and analyzed for prolactin concentration using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] method. Data were analyzed using SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL USA [Student’s t-Test and Tukey’s Post-hoc test] and significance was determined at P < 0.05. Serum prolactin concentrations were compared with those of non-cancer control subjects. The results revealed that prolactin levels were generally higher among cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and those undergoing radiotherapy exhibited lower mean prolactin concentrations compared to those receiving chemotherapy and combined groups. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference [P > 0.05] in prolactin levels among the different treatment groups, however, when cancer patients were compared to non-cancer controls, prolactin levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Gender showed no significant effect on prolactin concentration. These findings suggest that while chemotherapy could raise prolactin and radiotherapy slightly lowered prolactin secretion, the overall effect observed is more likely associated with the presence of malignancy than with treatment modality.