Abstract
BackgroundIn patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/premenopausal breast cancer, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHas) are used as standard endocrine treatment. Based on previous clinical studies, 1-month formulations are recommended in most breast cancer treatment guidelines, but long-acting formulations facilitate reductions in side effects and patient discomfort caused by frequent administration. However, few efficacy studies have been conducted on 6-month formulations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 6-month formulations of LHRHas.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 and involved premenopausal patients with HR+ breast cancer administered 6-month LHRHas as adjuvant treatment after surgery, and those previously administered chemotherapy or other LHRHa types were excluded. Patients’ estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured before surgery, and their E2 levels were also measured at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months at periodic postsurgical examinations.ResultsA total of 228 patients were included, and the median patient age was 44 (range, 25–54) years. The mean serum E2 and FSH levels before surgery were 69.7 (range, 4–683) pg/mL and 7.3 (range, 0.4–88.9) mIU/mL, respectively, whereas the mean serum E2 level monitored at intervals during the 6-month LHRHa administration was 5.5 (range, 4.0–52) pg/mL. No women menstruated during the follow-up period after the LHRHas administration, and the E2 levels were less than 30 pg/mL in all patients except one.ConclusionsThe 6-month LHRHa formulation adequately suppressed ovarian function in premenopausal patients with HR+ breast cancer. This indicates that long-acting LHRHas can be effectively used for patient convenience and that there is high compliance with long-term use.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, and approximately 75% of patients are hormone receptor-positive (HR+) [1]
This retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 and involved premenopausal patients with HR+ breast cancer administered 6month luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHas) as adjuvant treatment after surgery, and those previously administered chemotherapy or other LHRHa types were excluded
The mean serum E2 and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before surgery were 69.7 pg/mL and 7.3 mIU/mL, respectively, whereas the mean serum E2 level monitored at intervals during the 6-month LHRHa administration was 5.5 pg/mL
Summary
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, and approximately 75% of patients are hormone receptor-positive (HR+) [1]. In premenopausal women, reducing the production of estradiol (E2) by suppressing ovarian function is the basis of treatments such as bilateral oophorectomy, ovarian irradiation, and the administration of the synthetic analog of luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHas) [3]. LHRHas show ovarian suppressive effects equivalent to those of oophorectomy; according to several recently updated breast cancer adjuvant treatment guidelines, the administration of ovarian function suppression (OFS) therapy after chemotherapy is recommended in high-risk premenopausal patients with HR+ breast cancer [2, 4,5,6]. In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/premenopausal breast cancer, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHas) are used as standard endocrine treatment. Based on previous clinical studies, 1-month formulations are recommended in most breast cancer treatment guidelines, but long-acting formulations facilitate reductions in side effects and patient discomfort caused by frequent administration. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 6-month formulations of LHRHas
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have