Levonorgestrel intrauterine system for endometrial protection in women with breast cancer on adjuvant tamoxifen

The risk of endocrine interventions in carriers of a genetic predisposition for breast and gynecologic cancers: recommendations of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

PURPOSE

To support doctors in counselling women with genetic predisposition for breast or gynecologic cancers on endocrine interventions.

METHODS

Evidence on the safety of endocrine interventions for fertility treatment, contraception, hormone replacement therapy after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) or treatment of symptoms during peri- and postmenopause was analysed for carriers of probably pathogenic and pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2-pV), in other breast and ovarian cancer genes and the Lynch Syndrome. Cancer risks were compared with data on risks for the general population.

RESULTS

Data on risk modulation of endocrine interventions in women with genetic predisposition is limited. Ovarian hyperstimulation for fertility treatment may be performed. Oral contraceptives should not be used to reduce ovarian cancer risk in BRCA1/2-pV carriers. Premenopausal BRCA1/2-pV carriers and carriers of pV in Lynch Syndrome genes should be offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after RRSO, to prevent diseases caused by estrogen deficiency.

CONCLUSION

Effect direction and strength of risk modulation by endocrine interventions is similar to the general population. Participation of individuals at risk in prospective registries is recommended.

Contraception During Perimenopause: Practical Guidance

Climacteric is by no means in itself a contraindication to safe contraception. On the contrary, there are several conditions related to the perimenopause that could benefit from the use of modern contraceptives, mainly hormonal, with the goals of avoiding unintended pregnancies and giving further possible benefits beyond contraception (menstrual cycle control, a reduction of vasomotor symptoms and menstrual migraines, a protection against bone loss, a positive oncological risk/benefit balance). This narrative review aims to provide practical guidance on their possible use in this particular life stage, both short- and long-acting reversible contraceptives, and to assist clinicians for women transitioning from contraception to their menopausal years, including the possible initiation of postmenopausal hormone therapy. Comprehensive contraceptive counselling is an essential aspect of the overall health and wellbeing of women and should be addressed with each such patient irrespective of age.

Endometrial Surveillance in Tamoxifen and Letrozole Treated Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Our study aimed to assess the risk of endometrial pathologies after tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) adjuvant treatment for female breast cancer patients treated at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman.

Materials and Methods: A total of 457 patients diagnosed with estrogen positive breast cancer between January 2011 and December 2018 were screened. Two hundred and four patients met the inclusion criteria, and their detailed clinicopathological and endometrial surveillance data were collected from their electronic health records.

Results: All patients underwent endometrial assessment during tamoxifen or letrozole therapy. The mean diagnostic age of breast cancer patients is 43.6 years, ranging from 27-84 years. Eighty-three percent of those patients are premenopausal, and 17% are postmenopausal. The mean tamoxifen use duration was 33 months. The majority of patients, 123 (60.3%), have had tamoxifen for three years or less, 47 (23.1%) for 3-5 years, and only 22 (10.8%) were on tamoxifen for more than five years. Increased endometrial thickness was reported in 8% of the premenopausal and 14% of the postmenopausal group. Other endometrial pathologies that were detected are inactive endometrium three (1.47%), atrophic endometrium three (1.47%), serous carcinoma one (0.50%), endometrial cancer two (0.98%), and chronic endometritis one (0.50%), which were not significantly associated with tamoxifen or letrozole therapy duration. Two patients have developed endometrial cancer, and both are postmenopausal and > 60 years old.

Conclusions: Tamoxifen and letrozole did not increase the risk of endometrial cancer in premenopausal patients. Breast Cancer (BC) patients on tamoxifen or letrozole might need a pre-treatment endometrial evaluation and explanation of alarming symptoms to guide further endometrial surveillance.

Development of endometrial cancer after long-term usage of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system

A 52-year-old long-term user of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) presented with vaginal bleeding. Endometrial biopsy was performed and revealed endometrioid adenocarcinoma. The patient had a laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Endometrial cancer is rare in women with LNG-IUS as only seven cases have been published in the literature. Although scientific evidence shows LNG-IUS has a protective effect on the endometrium from developing cancer, our report highlights the importance of clinicians to be vigilant in cases of women with LNG-IUS who develop intermittent vaginal bleeding.

Levonorgestrel intrauterine system for endometrial protection in women with breast cancer on adjuvant tamoxifen

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Tamoxifen also increases the risk of postmenopausal bleeding, endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) causes profound endometrial suppression. This systematic review considered the evidence that the LNG-IUS prevents the development of endometrial pathology in women taking tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness and safety of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in pre- and postmenopausal women taking adjuvant tamoxifen following breast cancer for the outcomes of endometrial and uterine pathology including abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting, and secondary breast cancer events.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases on 29 June 2020; The Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group specialised register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group specialised register on 4 March 2020. We also searched two trials registers, checked references for relevant trials and contacted study authors and experts in the field to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of women with breast cancer on adjuvant tamoxifen that compared the effectiveness of the LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance versus endometrial surveillance alone on the incidence of endometrial pathology.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures recommended by Cochrane. The primary outcome measure was endometrial pathology (including polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, or endometrial cancer), diagnosed at hysteroscopy or endometrial biopsy. Secondary outcome measures included fibroids, abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting, breast cancer recurrence, and breast cancer-related deaths. We rated the overall certainty of evidence using GRADE methods.

MAIN RESULTS

We included four RCTs (543 women analysed) in this review. We judged the certainty of the evidence to be moderate for all of the outcomes, due to imprecision (i.e. limited sample sizes and low event rates). In the included studies, the active treatment arm was the 20 μg/day LNG-IUS plus endometrial surveillance; the control arm was endometrial surveillance alone. In tamoxifen users, the LNG-IUS probably reduces the incidence of endometrial polyps compared to the control group over both a 12-month period (Peto odds ratio (OR) 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08 to 0.64, I² = 0%; 2 RCTs, n = 212; moderate-certainty evidence) and over a long-term follow-up period (24 to 60 months) (Peto OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.39; I² = 0%; 4 RCTs, n = 417; moderate-certainty evidence). For long-term follow-up, this suggests that if the incidence of endometrial polyps following endometrial surveillance alone is assumed to be 23.5%, the incidence following LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance would be between 3.8% and 10.7%.  The LNG-IUS probably slightly reduces the incidence of endometrial hyperplasia compared with controls over a long-term follow-up period (24 to 60 months) (Peto OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.67; I² = 0%; 4 RCTs, n = 417; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the chance of endometrial hyperplasia following endometrial surveillance alone is assumed to be 2.8%, the chance following LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance would be between 0.1% and 1.9%. However, it should be noted that there were only six cases of endometrial hyperplasia. There was insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion regarding the incidence of endometrial cancer in tamoxifen users, as no studies reported cases of endometrial cancer. At 12 months of follow-up, the LNG-IUS probably increases abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting compared to the control group (Peto OR 7.26, 95% CI 3.37 to 15.66; I² = 0%; 3 RCTs, n = 376; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the chance of abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting following endometrial surveillance alone is assumed to be 1.7%, the chance following LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance would be between 5.6% and 21.5%. By 24 months of follow-up, abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting occurs less frequently than at 12 months of follow-up, but is still more common in the LNG-IUS group than the control group (Peto OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.04 to 7.10; I² = 0%; 2 RCTs, n = 233; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the chance of abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting following endometrial surveillance alone is assumed to be 4.2%, the chance following LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance would be between 4.4% and 23.9%. By 60 months of follow-up, there were no cases of abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting in either group. The numbers of events for the following outcomes were low: fibroids (n = 13), breast cancer recurrence (n = 18), and breast cancer-related deaths (n = 16). As a result, there is probably little or no difference in these outcomes between the LNG-IUS treatment group and the control group.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The LNG-IUS probably slightly reduces the incidence of benign endometrial polyps and endometrial hyperplasia in women with breast cancer taking tamoxifen. At 12 and 24 months of follow-up, the LNG-IUS probably increases abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting among women in the treatment group compared to those in the control. Data were lacking on whether the LNG-IUS prevents endometrial cancer in these women. There is no clear evidence from the available RCTs that the LNG-IUS affects the risk of breast cancer recurrence or breast cancer-related deaths. Larger studies are necessary to assess the effects of the LNG-IUS on the incidence of endometrial cancer, and to determine whether the LNG-IUS might have an impact on the risk of secondary breast cancer events.

Tamoxifen and Endometrial Cancer: A Janus-Headed Drug

Simple Summary

Tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, is a potent drug to treat and prevent hormone dependent breast cancer. As it has low toxicity and is widely available, tamoxifen has become one of the most frequently prescribed anticancer drugs worldwide. A major side effect of tamoxifen is to increase the risk of uterine corpus cancer (endometrial cancer). This happens after long-term (>2 years) application, especially in postmenopausal women with preexisting pathologies in the uterus. On the other hand, tamoxifen is an efficacious treatment for certain forms of advanced endometrial cancer, thus making it a Janus-headed drug that can support the development of endometrial cancer on one hand and be used as a remedy for this disease on the other. This article reviews the clinical data on these controversial effects of tamoxifen and the possible explanations.

Abstract

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used for the treatment and prevention of estrogen receptor (ER)—positive breast cancer. However, tamoxifen increases the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) by about 2–7 fold, and more aggressive types of EC with poor prognoses are observed in tamoxifen users. On the other hand, tamoxifen is an efficacious treatment for advanced or recurrent EC with low toxicity. The differential agonistic or antagonistic effects of tamoxifen on ERα are explained by the tissue-specific expression profiles of co-activators and co-repressors of the receptor. The estrogen-agonistic effect of tamoxifen in endometrial cancers can also be explained by the expression of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1), a membrane-bound estrogen receptor for which tamoxifen and other “antiestrogens” are pure agonists.

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for endometrial hyperplasia

BACKGROUND

In the absence of treatment, endometrial hyperplasia (EH) can progress to endometrial cancer, particularly in the presence of histologic nuclear atypia. The development of EH results from exposure of the endometrium to oestrogen unopposed by progesterone. Oral progestogens have been used as treatment for EH without atypia, and in some cases of EH with atypia in women who wish to preserve fertility or who cannot tolerate surgery. EH without atypia is associated with a low risk of progression to atypia and cancer; EH with atypia is where the cells are structurally abnormal, and has a higher risk of developing cancer. Oral progestogen is not always effective at reversing the hyperplasia, can be associated with side effects, and depends on patient adherence. The levonorgestrel-intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is an alternative method of administration of progestogen and may have some advantages over non-intrauterine progestogens.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in women with endometrial hyperplasia (EH) with or without atypia compared to medical treatment with non-intrauterine progestogens, placebo, surgery or no treatment.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases: the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group (CGF) Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO, and conference proceedings of 10 relevant organisations. We handsearched references in relevant published studies. We also searched ongoing trials in ClinicalTrials.gov, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry, and other trial registries. We performed the final search in May 2020.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cross-over trials of women with a histological diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia with or without atypia comparing LNG-IUS with non-intrauterine progestogens, placebo, surgery or no treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently performed study selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction. Our primary outcome measures were regression of EH and adverse effects associated with the LNG-IUS device (such as pelvic inflammatory disease, device expulsion, uterine perforation) when compared to treatment with non-intrauterine progestogens, placebo, surgery or no treatment. Secondary outcomes included hysterectomy, hormone-related adverse effects (such as bleeding/spotting, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, ovarian cysts, weight gain, acne), withdrawal from treatment due to adverse effects, satisfaction with treatment, and cost or resource use. We rated the overall quality of evidence using GRADE methods.

MAIN RESULTS

Thirteen RCTs (1657 women aged 22 to 75 years) met the inclusion criteria. Two studies had insufficient data for meta-analysis, thus the quantitative analysis included 11 RCTs. All trials evaluated treatment duration of six months or less. The evidence ranged from very low to moderate quality: the main limitations were risk of bias (associated with lack of blinding and poor reporting of study methods), inconsistency and imprecision. LNG-IUS versus non-intrauterine progestogens Primary outcomes Regression of endometrial hyperplasia The LNG-IUS probably improves regression of EH compared with non-intrauterine progestogens at short-term follow-up (up to six months) (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.10 to 4.13; I² = 0%; 10 RCTs, 1108 participants; moderate-quality evidence). This suggests that if regression of EH following treatment with a non-intrauterine progestogen is assumed to be 72%, regression of EH following treatment with LNG-IUS would be between 85% and 92%. Regression of EH may be improved by LNG-IUS compared with non-intrauterine progestogens at long-term follow-up (12 months) (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.75 to 8.23; 1 RCT, 138 participants; low-quality evidence), Adverse effects associated with LNG-IUS There was insufficient evidence to determine device-related adverse effects; only one study reported on expulsion with insufficient data for analysis. Secondary outcomes The LNG-IUS may be associated with fewer hysterectomies (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.46; I² = 19%; 4 RCTs, 452 participants; low-quality evidence), fewer withdrawals from treatment due to hormone-related adverse effects (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.35; I² = 0%; 4 RCTs, 360 participants; low-quality evidence) and improved patient satisfaction with treatment (OR 5.28, 95% CI 2.51 to 11.10; I² = 0%; 2 RCTs, 202 participants; very low-quality evidence) compared to non-intrauterine progestogens. The LNG-IUS may be associated with more bleeding/spotting (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.43; I² = 78%; 3 RCTs, 428 participants) and less nausea (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.95; I² = 0%; 3 RCTs, 428 participants) compared to non-intrauterine progestogens. Data from single trials for mood swings and fatigue had a similar direction of effect as for bleeding/spotting, nausea and weight gain. There was insufficient evidence to determine cost or resource use. LNG-IUS versus no treatment Regression of endometrial hyperplasia One study demonstrated that the LNG-IUS is associated with regression of EH without atypia (OR 78.41, 95% CI 22.86 to 268.97; I² = 0%; 1 RCT, 190 participants; moderate-quality evidence) compared with no treatment. This study did not report on any other review outcome.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is moderate-quality evidence that treatment with LNG-IUS used for three to six months is probably more effective than non-intrauterine progestogens at reversing EH in the short term (up to six months) and long term (up to two years). Adverse effects (device-related and hormone-related) were poorly and incompletely reported across studies. Very low quality to low-quality evidence suggests the LNG-IUS may reduce the risk of hysterectomy, and may be associated with more bleeding/spotting, less nausea, less withdrawal from treatment due to adverse effects, and increased satisfaction with treatment, compared to non-intrauterine progestogens. There was insufficient evidence to reach conclusions regarding device-related adverse effects, or cost or resource use.

Contraception with the new intrauterine systems: a winning choice if shared!

Today the rate of unexpected pregnancy is still unacceptably high; long-acting reversible contraceptives, (LARC) seem to be an effective and modern solution. Intrauterine contraception (IUC) is the main exponent of the LARC and it is living a new exponential spread in the last years. Today IUC is the most widely used reversible contraceptive method and it is recommended by the major scientific gynecological societies. This review of the literature aims to retrace the history of intrauterine contraception and to focus attention on intrauterine systems (IUS), its last and most modern form. The three systems (LNG-IUS 52 mg; LNG-IUS 13.5 mg; LNG-IUS 19.5 mg) base their extraordinary effectiveness on the same mechanism of action, however they present some important differences that can be used to enhance and customize the treatment, not just contraceptive, based on the woman's needs.

Tamoxifen Exposure during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Three More Cases

Tamoxifen is frequently used as adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. According to guidelines, the use of nonhormonal barrier contraception is recommended during tamoxifen treatment and up to 3 months after its interruption prior to attempting conception. Nevertheless, when conception occurs inadvertently during tamoxifen treatment, the effects on the fetus and on the course of pregnancy are still not completely known. Here, we report 3 cases of young women who accidentally became pregnant while taking tamoxifen and perform a systematic review of the literature to provide more elements for better and clear multidisciplinary counselling of women facing this challenging situation.

Decreasing secondary primary uterine cancer after breast cancer: A population-based analysis

OBJECTIVE

To report population-based statistics of women with uterine cancer and a history of prior breast cancer.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study examining the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program between 1973 and 2013. Temporal trends, clinico-pathological characteristics, and survival of women with uterine cancer who had prior breast cancer were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 237,686 women with uterine cancer, 8235 (3.5%) women had antecedent breast cancer. The number of women with uterine cancer who had a history of breast cancer increased between 1975 and 1989 (21.1-fold relative risk-increase, P < 0.001) and then decreased between 1989 and 2013 (relative risk-reduction [RRR] 11.1%, P = 0.008). The number of uterine cancer among breast cancer survivors decreased between 1990 and 2008 (RRR, 86.0%, P < 0.001). Women with uterine cancer and antecedent breast cancer were more likely to be older and white compared to those without a history of breast cancer (P < 0.05). Uterine tumors after breast cancer were more likely to have serous (10.5% versus 5.7%), carcinosarcoma (8.9% versus 4.4%), or clear cell (2.1% versus 1.2%) histology and present with grade 3 (30.8% versus 21.5%) and stage I disease (64.6% versus 62.5%) compared to tumors in women without breast cancer (all, P < 0.05). After propensity score matching, women with uterine cancer after breast cancer were less likely to die from uterine cancer (adjusted-hazard ratio [HR] 0.675) but more likely to die from other malignancies (adjusted-HR 4.090), particularly breast cancer, and had poorer overall survival (adjusted-HR 1.154) compared to those without breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of uterine cancer after breast cancer is decreasing. While uterine tumors following breast cancer are associated with high-risk tumor characteristics, women with uterine cancer after breast cancer are more likely to die from other malignancies.

Oral and intrauterine progestogens for atypical endometrial hyperplasia

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynaecologic malignancy in the world and develops through preliminary stages of endometrial hyperplasia. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia suggests a significant pre-malignant state with frank progression to endometrial carcinoma, and tends to occur at a young age. Oral progestins have been used as conservative treatment in young women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia, but they are associated with poor tolerability and side effects that may limit their overall efficacy. So it has become increasingly important and necessary to find a safe and effective fertility-sparing treatment with better tolerability and fewer side effects than the options currently available. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) has been used to provide endometrial protection in women with breast cancer who are on adjuvant tamoxifen. The antiproliferative function of levonorgestrel is thought to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy and safety of oral and intrauterine progestogens in treating atypical endometrial hyperplasia.

SEARCH METHODS

In July 2018 we searched CENTRAL; MEDLINE; Embase; CINAHL, PsycINFO and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure for relevant trials. Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility (CGF) Specialised Register and Embase were searched in November 2018. We attempted to identify trials from references in published studies. We also searched for ongoing trials in five major clinical trials registries.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of oral and intrauterine progestogens (LNG-IUS) versus each other or placebo in women with a confirmed histological diagnosis of simple or complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias and extracted the data. The primary outcomes of the review were rate of regression and adverse effects. Secondary outcomes included rate of recurrence and proportion of women undergoing hysterectomy. We have used GRADE methodology to judge the quality of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included one RCT (153 women) comparing the LNG-IUS administering 20 micrograms (μu) levonorgestrel per day versus 10 milligrams of continuous or cyclical oral medroxyprogesterone (MPA) for treating any type of endometrial hyperplasia. Only 19 women in this study were histologically confirmed with atypical complex hyperplasia before treatment. The evidence was of low or very low quality. The included study was at low risk of bias, but the quality of the evidence was very seriously limited by imprecision and indirectness. We did not find any RCTS comparing the LNG-IUS or oral progestogens versus placebo in women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia.Among the 19 women with atypical complex hyperplasia, after six months of treatment there was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference in regression rates between the LNG-IUS group and the progesterone group (odds ratio (OR) 2.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 29.73; 1 RCT subgroup, 19 women, very low-quality evidence). The rate of regression was 100% in the LNG-IUS group (n = 6/6) and 77% in the progesterone group (n = 10/13).Among the total study population (N = 153), over the six months' treatment the main adverse effects were nausea and vaginal bleeding. There was no evidence of a difference between the groups in rates of nausea (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.18; 1 RCT, 153 women, very low-quality evidence). Vaginal bleeding was more common in the LNG-IUS group (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.52; 1 RCT, 153 women, low-quality evidence). Except for nausea and vaginal bleeding, no other adverse effects were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We did not find any RCTS of women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and our findings derive from a subgroup of 19 women in a larger RCT. All six women who used the LNG-IUS system achieved regression of atypical hyperplasia, but there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions regarding the relative efficacy of LNG-IUS versus oral progesterone (MPA) in this group of women. When assessed in a population of women with any type of endometrial hyperplasia, there was no clear evidence of a difference between LNG-IUS and oral progesterone (MPA) in risk of nausea, but vaginal bleeding was more likely to occur in women using the LNG-IUS. Larger studies are necessary to assess the efficacy and safety of oral and intrauterine progestogens in treating atypical endometrial hyperplasia.

Should age impact breast cancer management in young women? Fine tuning of treatment guidelines

Despite breast cancer being uncommon in young women, it is still the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women aged 15–39 years, and the leading cause of death in this age group in high-income countries, after accidents and self-injury. The present review summarizes the most recent guidelines and offers an expert perspective on the many challenges associated with treatment of young women with breast cancer. We will especially focus on early breast cancer, exploring the specificities of the diagnostic process, imaging techniques, locoregional and systemic treatments, and the added value of dedicated multidisciplinary teams. Specific differences in adjuvant treatment between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, especially regarding endocrine therapy, will be addressed in detail. Research questions and current gaps in important fields, such as the paucity of age-specific data regarding antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (anti-HER2) therapy and gene panels such as OncotypeDX or MAMMAPRINT will be highlighted. A consistent part of this review is dedicated to the issues defining ‘young women’, such as fertility preservation, managing long-term side effects of oncological treatments and genetic counselling, by detailing current strategies and future perspectives.

Best Practices in Counseling Young Female Cancer Survivors on Reproductive Health

In the United States, there are more than 400,000 girls and young women of reproductive-age with a history of cancer. Cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation can adversely impact their reproductive health. This review discusses infertility, contraception, and adverse pregnancy and child health outcomes in reproductive-aged cancer survivors, to increase awareness of these health risks for survivors and their health care providers. Infertility rates are modestly higher, while rates of using contraception and using highly effective contraceptive methods are lower in cancer survivors than in women without a history of cancer. During pregnancy, preterm births are also more common in survivors, resulting in more low-birth-weight offspring. Children of cancer survivors do not have more childhood cancers, birth defects, or chromosomal abnormalities than the general population, with the exception of families with hereditary cancer. Reproductive risks in survivors depend on cancer treatment exposures. For example, women with prior abdominal or pelvic radiation have additional risks of spontaneous abortions, small-for-gestational-age offspring and stillbirths, while those with prior chest radiation or anthracycline exposures have higher risks of cardiomyopathy. To help survivors achieve their reproductive goals safely, family planning and preconception counseling are central to survivorship care.

Impact of tamoxifen therapy on fertility in breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether tamoxifen use is associated with decreased ovarian reserve and decreased likelihood of having a child after a breast cancer diagnosis, using data from the Furthering Understanding of Cancer, Health, and Survivorship in Adult (FUCHSIA) Women Study.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

SETTING

Not applicable.

PATIENT(S)

Three hundred ninety-seven female breast cancer survivors aged 22-45 years whose cancer was diagnosed between ages 20 and 35 years and who were at least 2 years after diagnosis; 108 survivors also participated in a clinic visit.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Time to first child after cancer diagnosis, clinical measures of ovarian reserve (antimüllerian hormone [AMH] and antral follicle count [AFC]) after cancer.

RESULT(S)

Women who had ever used tamoxifen were substantially less likely to have a child after the breast cancer diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16, 0.54) than women who had never used tamoxifen. After adjusting for age at diagnosis, exposure to an alkylating agent, and race, the HR was 0.25 (95% CI, 0.14, 0.47). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, women who had used tamoxifen had an estimated geometric mean AMH level 2.47 times higher (95% CI, 1.08, 5.65) than women who had never taken tamoxifen. Antral follicle count was also higher in the tamoxifen group compared with the tamoxifen nonusers when adjusted for the same variables (risk ratio 1.21; 95% CI, 0.84, 1.73).

CONCLUSION(S)

Breast cancer survivors who had used tamoxifen were less likely to have a child after breast cancer diagnosis compared with survivors who never used tamoxifen. However, tamoxifen users did not have decreased ovarian reserve compared with the tamoxifen nonusers.

New developments in intrauterine device use: focus on the US

Many more women in the US today rely upon intrauterine devices (IUDs) than in the past. This increased utilization may have substantially contributed to the decline in the percentage of unintended pregnancies in the US. Evidence-based practices have increased the number of women who are medically eligible for IUDs and have enabled more rapid access to the methods. Many women enjoy freedom to use IUDs without cost, but for many the impact of the Affordable Care Act has yet to be realized. Currently, there are three hormonal IUDs and one copper IUD available in the US. Each IUD is extremely effective, convenient, and safe. The newer IUDs have been tested in populations not usually included in clinical trials and provide reassuring answers to older concerns about IUD use in these women, including information about expulsion, infection, and discontinuation. On the other hand, larger surveillance studies have provided new estimates about the risks of complications such as perforation, especially in postpartum and breastfeeding women. This article summarizes significant features of each IUD and provides a summary of the differences to aid clinicians in the US and other countries in advising women about IUD choices.