Growth and growth hormone status after a bone marrow transplant

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease
08:05

Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease

Published on: March 17, 2020

S M Shalet1, B M D Brennan

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK. stephen.m.shalet@man.ac.uk

Hormone Research
|October 10, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy may develop growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Early diagnosis and treatment decisions for GHD are crucial for optimizing growth outcomes in these young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Radiation oncology

Background:

  • Children treated for cancer, particularly brain tumors, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and other malignancies requiring irradiation, face significant risks of endocrine dysfunction.
  • Radiotherapy (XRT) targeting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis can lead to growth hormone deficiency (GHD), impacting growth and final height.
  • Specific XRT doses and treatment modalities (e.g., cranial XRT, total body irradiation) are associated with varying risks of GHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • To provide guidance on the timing and decision-making process for growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy.
  • To emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving pediatric oncologists and endocrinologists.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical situations involving pediatric cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (XRT) and potential for GHD.
  • Analysis of diagnostic tools, including Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 standard deviation score (IGF-1 SDS) and provocative GH testing.
  • Consideration of auxological (growth) data and pubertal status in assessing GH status and guiding treatment.

Main Results:

  • High risk (>50%) of GHD two years after XRT doses >= 30 Gy to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
  • IGF-1 SDS is a valuable diagnostic tool, especially in severe XRT-induced GHD.
  • Auxology plays a key role in assessing GH status for patients receiving lower cranial or total body irradiation.

Conclusions:

  • Collaborative decisions between oncologists and endocrinologists are essential for managing GHD in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • Therapeutic strategies for GH replacement require careful consideration of biochemical evidence, auxology, and prognosis.
  • Early intervention for precocious puberty may be necessary to preserve final height in irradiated children.

More Related Videos

Competitive Transplants to Evaluate Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fitness08:53

Competitive Transplants to Evaluate Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fitness

Published on: August 31, 2016

Bone Marrow Transplantation Procedures in Mice to Study Clonal Hematopoiesis08:00

Bone Marrow Transplantation Procedures in Mice to Study Clonal Hematopoiesis

Published on: May 26, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors01:28

Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors

Hematopoietic growth factors are molecules that regulate the differentiation rate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Erythropoietin (EPO), primarily produced by the kidneys, plays a crucial role in erythrocyte production. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, EPO is released into the bloodstream, reaching the bone marrow, where it stimulates HSCs to differentiate and mature into erythrocytes, which are vital for oxygen transport.
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Overview of Hematopoiesis01:20

Overview of Hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis, or blood cell production, is a vital biological process that begins early in embryonic development and continues throughout life. This process generates the various types of cells found in blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration01:21

Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration

Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...