Fertility In Breast Cancer Patients Research Articles

Fertility and breast cancer: A literature review of counseling, preservation options and outcomes.

Fertility preservation is an important issue in breast cancer patients undergoing oncological treatment. Fertility counseling is a crucial need given the physical and psychological stress experienced by patients. Cryopreservation of mature oocytes is currently the standard fertility-preserving procedure. Other options such as ovarian tissue preservation or gonadal protection during chemotherapy are still experimental, but have proven effectiveness. Prompt referral to a fertility unit is highly recommended in order to ensure quality of care. In this article, we focus on the different strategies to preserve fertility in breast cancer patients, assessing also the safety of pregnancy and breastfeeding after cancer. A systemic literature review was performed for research articles published in English in PubMed, or as abstracts from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meetings, using the search terms "breast cancer" and "fertility".

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure in breast cancer patients.

Since the survival of patients with cancer has significantly improved, chemotherapy-related premature ovarian failure (POF) in young cancer survivors has become a major issue in oncology. POF is associated with several health-related negative consequences, including menopausal symptoms, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, and infertility. According to the major international guidelines, embryo/oocyte cryopreservation are the standard procedures for fertility preservation in young cancer women. However, these techniques do not protect the whole ovarian function from the gonadotoxicity of anticancer therapies; indeed, they can only preserve fertility without preventing POF and related side effects. In recent years, temporary ovarian suppression during chemotherapy with lutenising hormone-releasing hormone analogues (LHRHa) has emerged as an option to preserve both gonadal function and fertility. Despite temporary ovarian suppression with LHRHa showed to be an effective strategy to reduce the risk of treatment-related POF in several randomized clinical trials, its use as a standard procedure is still under debate. The present review will encompass the current evidences and controversies on the efficacy and safety of ovarian protection with LHRHa during chemotherapy for preservation of ovarian function and fertility in breast cancer patients, in light of the new data published.

4* - Ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies

4* - Ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies

1957 Ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies

1957 Ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies

The role of menstrual cycle phase and AMH levels in breast cancer patients whose ovarian tissue was cryopreserved for oncofertility treatment.

PurposeTo determine the factors that affect oocyte extraction efficiency when using the “combined procedure”. In the present “combined procedure” ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte extraction from an isolated ovary, later used in In Vitro Maturation (IVM), are performed concurrently.MethodsData were analyzed retrospectively and obtained from the clinical records of 27 young breast cancer patients referred for fertility preservation.ResultsThe patients’ mean age was 33.7 (±3.8) years, mean serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration was 3.5 (±2.1) ng/ml, and mean number of extracted oocytes was 8.3 (±6.1). The phase of menstruation (follicular or luteal) did not affect either the number of oocytes extracted (P = 0.99) nor oocyte survival or maturation rates. Likewise, the number of oocytes that could be extracted was not affected by the type of laparoscopic procedure (multiple-port or single-incision laparoscopy; P = 0.94) or the molecular subtype of breast cancer (either Luminal A or B; P = 0.52). Analysis revealed that the number of extracted oocytes was well-correlated with the patient’s AMH serum level and age (coefficient of correlation: 0.60 and −0.48, respectively).ConclusionWe conclude that the outcome of the “combined procedure” primarily depends upon the patient’s serum AMH level and age. Importantly, the “combined procedure” may be used during any phase of the menstrual cycle to preserve the fertility of breast cancer patients.

PO33 Clinical practice guideline for preservation of fertility in breast cancer patients in Japan

HM32 Cognitive coping in young women with breast cancer R. Sachdev, S.M. Rosenberg, K.J. Ruddy, L. Schapira, S. Come, V. Borges, B. Larsen, S. Gelber, R.M. Tamimi, A.H. Partridge. Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston MA, USA, Mayo Clinic, Department of Medical Oncology, Rochester MN, USA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston MA, USA, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston MA, USA, University of Colorado, Department of Medical Oncology, Aurora CO, USA, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Boston MA, USA, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Department of Channing Division of Network Medicine, Boston MA, USA

Techniques for fertility preservation in patients with breast cancer

To outline the risks of infertility from breast cancer treatment, and to illustrate current techniques in preserving fertility in breast-cancer patients who wish to become pregnant after treatment is concluded. Breast cancer often affects women of reproductive age. Although treatment is effective, cytotoxic chemotherapy causes ovarian reserve depletion, whereas hormonal therapy necessitates a delay in pregnancy, resulting in infertility. Patients of reproductive age should be referred to fertility specialists to explore methods of fertility preservation upon diagnosis. The best established method of fertility preservation is embryo cryopreservation, although investigational techniques such as, oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, may hold potential. Embryo cryopreservation involves ovarian stimulation to retrieve oocytes in-vitro fertilization prior to freezing. Techniques for the cryopreservation of unfertilized oocytes are under investigation. Successful pregnancies have resulted in breast cancer patients after treatment, without obvious compromise in their risk of recurrence or death from breast cancer. Ovarian stimulation with retrieval of ooctyes for in-vitro fertilization remains the best known option for fertility preservation in women with early stage breast cancer whose risk of fertility may be compromised by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adjunctive therapy with IVF may preserve fertility in breast cancer patients

Adjunctive therapy with IVF may preserve fertility in breast cancer patients

Adding Tamoxifen or Letrozole to In Vitro Fertilization May Preserve Fertility in Breast Cancer Patients

Adding Tamoxifen or Letrozole to In Vitro Fertilization May Preserve Fertility in Breast Cancer Patients