Prevalence and impact of endocrine disorders in advanced metastatic cancer patients undergoing cancer-directed therapy - A prospective observational study

Q: What endocrine disorders were evaluated in advanced metastatic cancer patients?

The study focused on diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, assessed at presentation and again after 3 and 6 months of cancer-directed standard therapy.

Q: How was the study conducted and who was included?

A prospective observational study recruited 100 histologically proven advanced metastatic cancer patients over 15 months, including adults over 18 who were treatment-naive and expected to survive at least 6 months.

Q: What were the main findings on prevalence and risk factors?

Baseline endocrine disorders were present in 10% of participants, increasing to 18% by 6 months. New-onset endocrine disorders during therapy were low (3% for diabetes, 4% for thyroid dysfunction), and smoking was associated with a higher risk of diabetes development.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Ava Thompson

Noncommunicable diseases drive substantial global morbidity and mortality, and cancer is among the leading causes. This prospective observational study examined the prevalence and clinical impact of endocrine disorders—specifically diabetes and thyroid dysfunction—in adults with advanced metastatic cancer receiving cancer-directed therapy. Over 15 months, 100 treatment-naive patients were followed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, with exclusion of prior therapy and incomplete palliative chemotherapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.2011 O R IG INA L ARTI CLE Prevalence and impact of endocrine disorders in advanced metastatic cancer patients undergoing cancer-directed therapy: A prospective observational study Gaurav Karna 1 | Amit Sehrawat 2 | Saurabh Karna 3 | Ravi Kant 1 | Deepak Sundriyal 2 | Summi Karn 4 | Dipesh Jha 5 1Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India 2Department of Medical Oncology Haematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India 3Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal 4Department of General Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India 5Department of Geriatric Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India Correspondence Gaurav Karna, Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India, 249203 . Email: [karna.gaurav@gmail.com](karna.gaurav@gmail.com) Saurabh Karna, Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Bagmati Provinces, Nepal, 044600 . Email: [saurabhkarna0@gmail.com](saurabhkarna0@gmail.com) Abstract Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) contribute significantly to global morbidity and mortality, with cancer being one of the leading causes. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of endocrine disorders, specifically diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, in patients with advanced metastatic cancer undergoing cancer-directed therapy. Methods: Over 15 months, we recruited 100 histologically proven advanced metastatic cancer patients from the Department of Medical Oncology Haematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, and conducted institutional-based prospective observational study. All participants over 18 years of age, treatment-naive, and potential candidates for systemic chemotherapy with an expected clinical survival of at least 6 months were included in the study. Patients with prior therapy, secondary neoplasms, and those unable to complete 3 months of palliative chemotherapy were excluded. Patients were assessed for diabetes and thyroid function at presentation, after 3 and 6 months of cancer-directed standard therapy. These data were analyzed, processed, and presented as results. Results: The mean age of participants was 50 .45 years, with a near-equal distribution of males and females. At baseline, 10% of the study population had preexisting endocrine disorders (2% hypothyroidism, 8% diabetes) . By the end of 6 months, the prevalence increased to 18%, with females being more affected. Notably, the prevalence of new-onset endocrine disorders during cancer-directed therapy was only 3% for diabetes and 4% for thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: Analysis of sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics showed no significant association with changes in diabetic and thyroid status at 3 and 6 months. However, substance use, particularly smoking, was associated with an increased risk of diabetes development (p < .05) . Cancer type and treatment regimen did not show statistically significant correlations with endocrine dysfunction. Implications: Our study highlights the importance of considering endocrine disorders in advanced metastatic cancer patients undergoing therapy. The prevalence of This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Authors. Cancer Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Cancer Reports. 2024;7:e2011 . [https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.2011](https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.2011) [wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cnr2](wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cnr2) 1 of 8 diabetes and thyroid dysfunction increased during cancer-directed therapy, particularly

FAQs

What endocrine disorders were evaluated in advanced metastatic cancer patients?

The study focused on diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, assessed at presentation and again after 3 and 6 months of cancer-directed standard therapy.

How was the study conducted and who was included?

A prospective observational study recruited 100 histologically proven advanced metastatic cancer patients over 15 months, including adults over 18 who were treatment-naive and expected to survive at least 6 months.

What were the main findings on prevalence and risk factors?

Baseline endocrine disorders were present in 10% of participants, increasing to 18% by 6 months. New-onset endocrine disorders during therapy were low (3% for diabetes, 4% for thyroid dysfunction), and smoking was associated with a higher risk of diabetes development.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Ava Thompson