Implications for management of ovarian cancer in a transgender man: Impact of androgens and androgen receptor status

Christa Aubrey; Nathalie Saad; Martin Köbel; Fiona Mattatall; Gregg Nelson; Sarah Glaze

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.02.019

Implications for management of ovarian cancer in a transgender man: Impact of androgens and androgen receptor status

Gynecol Oncol. 2021 May;161(2):342-346. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.02.019. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Authors

Christa Aubrey¹, Nathalie Saad², Martin Köbel³, Fiona Mattatall⁴, Gregg Nelson⁵, Sarah Glaze⁶

Affiliations

¹ Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
³ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
⁵ Department of Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Center, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
⁶ Department of Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Center, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: Sarah.Glaze@albertahealthservices.ca.

PMID: 33663874
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.02.019

Abstract

A 36-year-old transgender man (assigned female at birth) on exogenous testosterone therapy was found to have stage IIA ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. Diffuse androgen receptor expression in the tumor initiated a multidisciplinary discussion regarding the safety of continuing exogenous testosterone as gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Androgens / adverse effects*
Androgens / therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
Carboplatin / therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Endometrioid / chemically induced*
Carcinoma, Endometrioid / diagnosis
Carcinoma, Endometrioid / metabolism
Carcinoma, Endometrioid / therapy
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Female
Humans
Male
Ovarian Neoplasms / chemically induced*
Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
Salpingo-oophorectomy
Sex Reassignment Procedures / adverse effects*
Sex Reassignment Procedures / methods
Testosterone / adverse effects*
Testosterone / therapeutic use
Transgender Persons

Substances

AR protein, human
Androgens
Antineoplastic Agents
Biomarkers, Tumor
Receptors, Androgen
Testosterone
Carboplatin
Paclitaxel