Pregnancy outcomes in women with cancer.

Abstract

6116 Background: Parenthood after cancer is a critical concern for many cancer patients (pts). Pregnancy (prg) during cancer is an emotional time for about 1/1000 pregnant women. No randomized controlled studies exist examining the impact of cancer treatment (tx) on the developing fetus nor on the woman with cancer. Methods: From 2002-2011, women presenting for cancer tx during prg were approached for this IRB-approved prospective database study. All pts provided written consent. Results: To date 143 pts are evaluable. The median age at diagnosis was 32.1 years and median gestational age (GA) at enrollment was 18.2 weeks. 95/143 (66.4%) are White, 19 (13.3%) are African American, 17 (11.9%) are Hispanic and 12 (8.4%) are Asian/Other. Primary cancers included breast (n=59, 41.3%), hematologic (n=29, 20.3%), melanoma (n=13, 9%), GYN (n=11, 8%), GI (n=8, 5.6%), head/neck (n=7, 6%) and other (n=16, 11%) (brain=4, GU=1, thyroid=3, head/neck=7, thoracic=1, sarcoma=6, unknown primary=1). 111/143 (77.6%) of prgs resulted in live births. Median birth weight was 6.5 lbs. Median follow-up time for pts was 32.3 months. To date, 3/19 pts who terminated prgs have died (1.6%). Most terminations occurred in the 1st trimester. To date, 79 pts (55.2%) are NED and 23 pts have died; of these 19 (1.7%) had live births. No major malformations were observed in the 74/143 (52%) of pts who received chemotherapy (CTx) during pregnancy. 57% received FAC/FEC; other regimens included ABVD (n=5), cytarabine (n=5), CHOP/R-CHOP, and platinum-based regimens. Median GA at the start of CTx was 19.7 wks. Median number of CTx cycles during prg was 4. Other pts underwent surgery (n=32), no tx (n=14), deferred tx until after delivery (n=17), radiation (2), transplant (3), other (1). Conclusions: Cancer diagnosis during prg is compatible with successful tx and prg outcome. Cancer tx during the 2nd and 3rd trimester can be safely given and in our pts did not result in adverse prg outcomes. Tx during the 1st trimester is usually not recommended. Thus cancer pts in their 1st trimester need to be extensively counseled about their disease as well as about the risks to the prg. In our pts continuation or termination of prg were not associated with an increased risk of death.