Preimplantation genetic testing for carriers of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants

Current practices in oncofertility counseling: updated evidence on fertility preservation and post-treatment pregnancies in young women affected by early breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Anticancer treatments have significantly contributed to increasing cure rates of breast cancer in the last years; however, they can also lead to medium- and long-term side effects, including gonadotoxicity and compromised fertility in young women. Oncofertility is a crucial issue for young patients who have not yet completed their family planning at the time of cancer diagnosis.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to cover all the latest available evidence in the field of oncofertility, including the gonadotoxicity of currently adopted anticancer therapies in the curative breast cancer setting, the available strategies for fertility preservation and the feasibility of achieving a pregnancy following anticancer treatments completion.

EXPERT OPINION

Over the past years, a significant progress has been made in oncofertility care for young women with breast cancer. In the context of the currently available evidence, every young woman with newly diagnosed breast cancer should receive a proper and complete oncofertility counseling before starting any anticancer treatment to increase her chances of future pregnancies.

Fertility and Pregnancy-Related Issues in Young BRCA Carriers With Breast Cancer

Approximately 10% to 15% of breast cancer cases in young women are diagnosed in patients harbouring germline (g) pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs) in the BReast CAncer 1 (BRCA1) or BReast CAncer 2 (BRCA2) genes. Preclinical and clinical studies showed a potential negative effect of germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) PVs on ovarian reserve and reproductive potential, even before starting anticancer therapies. The aim of this article is to summarize the current literature on the fertility potential of young gBRCA1/2 PVs carriers with breast cancer and the risk of gonadotoxicity associated with anticancer treatments. Moreover, we describe the available evidence on the efficacy of fertility preservation techniques in young gBRCA1/2 PVs carriers and the safety data on having a pregnancy after breast cancer treatment.

Conception and pregnancy among women with a live birth after breast cancer treatment: A survey study of young breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women of reproductive age. This study sought to explore the postcancer conception and pregnancy experience of young BC survivors to inform counseling.

METHODS

In the Young Women's Breast Cancer Study (NCT01468246), a multicenter, prospective cohort, participants diagnosed at age ≤40 years with stage 0-III BC who reported ≥1 postdiagnosis live birth were sent an investigator-developed survey.

RESULTS

Of 119 eligible women, 94 (79%) completed the survey. Median age at diagnosis was 32 years (range, 17-40) and at first postdiagnosis delivery was 38 years (range, 29-47). Most had stage I or II (77%) and HR+ (78%) BC; 51% were nulligravida at diagnosis. After BC treatment, most (62%) conceived naturally, though 38% used assisted reproductive technology, 74% of whom first attempted natural conception for a median of 9 months (range, 2-48). Among women with a known inherited pathogenic variant (n = 20), two underwent preimplantation genetic testing. Of 59 women on endocrine therapy before pregnancy, 26% did not resume treatment. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (20%) was the most common obstetrical condition. Nine percent of newborns required neonatal intensive care unit admission and 9% had low birth weight.

CONCLUSION

Among women with live births after BC treatment, most conceived naturally and having a history of BC did not appear to negatively impact pregnancy complications, though the high rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy warrants further investigation. The prolonged period of attempting natural conception for some survivors suggests the potential need for improved understanding and counseling surrounding family planning goals after BC.

Breast Cancer and Fertility Preservation in Young Female Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer affects almost 1.5 million women worldwide below the age of 45 years each year. Many of these women will be advised to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy to minimize the risk of death or recurrence of the tumor. For these patients, chemotherapy is a known cause of infertility, as it can damage primordial follicles, which can lead to early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence of the most suitable treatments for fertility preservation.

METHODOLOGY

This review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The authors conducted an extensive search from the last 15 years. Relevant studies were pursued in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up until 31 July 2023. A total of seven eligible studies were identified.

RESULTS

From the reviewed literature, ovarian suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists showed promising results in preserving fertility for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, oocyte and embryo cryopreservation demonstrated successful outcomes, with embryo cryopreservation being the most effective option. Notably, the slow-freezing and vitrification methods were both effective in preserving embryos, with vitrification showing superior results in clinical-assisted reproductive technologies. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation emerged as a viable option for prepubertal girls and those unable to undergo conventional ovarian stimulation. The potential of in vitro maturation (IVM) as an alternative method presents a promising avenue for future fertility preservation research.

DISCUSSION

The most suitable treatments for fertility preservation in young patients is the temporary suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing analogs, while the patient undergoes chemotherapy and cryopreservation. For cryopreservation, the physicians might deem it necessary to either cryopreserve ovarian tissue taken from the patient before any treatment or cryopreserve embryos/oocytes. Cryopreservation of oocytes and/or embryos is the most effective solution for fertility preservation in women of reproductive age, who have a sufficient ovarian reserve and are diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of the histological type of the tumor. Because approximately 50% of young breast cancer patients are interested in becoming pregnant right after completion of therapy, the evolution and development of fertility preservation techniques promise to be very exciting.

Public Awareness and Acceptability of PGT-M in Cancer Predisposition Syndromes

Cancer Predisposition Syndromes (CPSs), also known as Hereditary Cancer Syndromes (HCSs), represent a group of genetic disorders associated with an increased lifetime risk of developing cancer. In this article, we provide an overview of the reproductive options for patients diagnosed with CPS, focusing on the emerging role of Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic disorders (PGT-M). Specifically, we conducted a literature review about the awareness and acceptability of its application to CPSs. Based on the available data, the awareness of the applicability of PGT-M for CPSs appears to be limited among both patients and physicians, and a heterogeneous set of factors seems to influence the acceptability of the procedure. Our findings highlight the need for increasing education about the use of PGT-M for CPSs. In this context, guidelines developed by professional or institutional bodies would represent a useful reference tool to assist healthcare professionals in providing proper preconception counseling.

Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders: clinical experience with BRCA1 and BRCA2 from 2010-2021

PURPOSE

Our aim was to describe the reproductive decisions and outcomes of BRCA-positive patients who used preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case series of all PGT-M cycles for BRCA variants between 2010-2021 at a large urban academic fertility center. All patients who underwent ≥ 1 cycle of IVF with PGT-M for BRCA1 or BRCA2 were included. The primary outcome was total number of BRCA-negative euploid embryos per patient.

RESULTS

Sixty four patients underwent PGT-M for BRCA variants. Forty-five percent (29/64) were BRCA1-positive females, 27% (17/64) were BRCA2-positive females, 16% (10/64) were BRCA1-positive males, 11% (7/64) were BRCA2-positive males, and one was a BRCA1 and BRCA2-positive male. There were 125 retrieval cycles with PGT-M, and all cycles included PGT for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Eighty-six percent (55/64) of patients obtained at least one BRCA- negative euploid embryo, with median of 1 (range 0-10) BRCA-negative euploid embryo resulted per cycle and median 3 (range 0-10) BRCA-negative euploid embryos accumulated per patient after a median of 2 (range 1-7) oocyte retrievals. Sixty-four percent (41/64) of patients attempted at least one frozen embryo transfer (FET) with a total of 68 FET cycles. Fifty-nine percent (40/68) of embryos transferred resulted in live births. Subgroup analysis revealed different reproductive pathways for BRCA1-positive females, BRCA2-positive females, and BRCA1/2-positive males (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PGT-M is a viable option for BRCA-positive patients to avoid transmission while building their families. Most patients in our cohort achieved pregnancy with BRCA-negative euploid embryos.

Management of individuals with germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in CHEK2: A clinical practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)

PURPOSE

Although the role of CHEK2 germline pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition is well known, resources for managing CHEK2 heterozygotes in clinical practice are limited.

METHODS

An international workgroup developed guidance on clinical management of CHEK2 heterozygotes informed by peer-reviewed publications from PubMed.

RESULTS

Although CHEK2 is considered a moderate penetrance gene, cancer risks may be considered as a continuous variable, which are influenced by family history and other modifiers. Consequently, early cancer detection and prevention for CHEK2 heterozygotes should be guided by personalized risk estimates. Such estimates may result in both downgrading lifetime breast cancer risks to those similar to the general population or upgrading lifetime risk to a level at which CHEK2 heterozygotes are offered high-risk breast surveillance according to country-specific guidelines. Risk-reducing mastectomy should be guided by personalized risk estimates and shared decision making. Colorectal and prostate cancer surveillance should be considered based on assessment of family history. For CHEK2 heterozygotes who develop cancer, no specific targeted medical treatment is recommended at this time.

CONCLUSION

Systematic prospective data collection is needed to establish the spectrum of CHEK2-associated cancer risks and to determine yet-unanswered questions, such as the outcomes of surveillance, response to cancer treatment, and survival after cancer diagnosis.

Fertility Preservation in Young Women With Breast Cancer: A Review

Fertility preservation is a major concern in young patients diagnosed with breast cancer and planning to receive multimodality treatment, including gonadotoxic chemotherapy with or without age-related decline through long-term endocrine therapy. Most breast cancer patients undergo multimodality treatments; many short-term and long-term side effects arise during these therapies. One of the most detrimental side effects is reduced fertility due to gonadotoxic treatments with resultant psychosocial stress. Cryopreservation of oocytes, embryos, and ovarian tissue are currently available fertility preservation methods for these patients. As an adjunct to these methods, in vitro maturation or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist could also be considered. It is also essential to communicate well with patients in the decision-making process on fertility preservation. It is essential to refer patients diagnosed with breast cancer on time to fertility specialists for individualized treatment, which may lead to desirable outcomes. To do so, a multimodal team-based approach and in-depth discussion on the treatment of breast cancer and fertility preservation is crucial. This review aims to summarize infertility risk related to currently available breast cancer treatment, options for fertility preservation and its details, barriers to oncofertility counseling, and psychosocial issues.

Approaches to Fertility Preservation for Young Women With Breast Cancer

In patients with early breast cancer, the combination of different systemic treatment strategies, including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and more recently also immunotherapy has demonstrated to significantly improve their survival outcomes. However, this gain is often obtained at the cost of higher toxicity calling for the need of increased attention toward survivorship-related issues, including fertility preservation in young women. According to available guidelines, health care providers should offer oncofertility counseling to all patients with cancer diagnosed at reproductive age. Counselling should focus on the risk of gonadotoxicity of anticancer treatments and on the access to fertility preservation techniques. However, several surveys have demonstrated suboptimal implementation of these recommendations. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence on oncofertility to guide health care providers involved in the management of young women with breast cancer. Available and effective options for fertility preservation include oocyte/embryo cryopreservation or ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Patient, disease, and treatment characteristics should be carefully considered when offering these strategies. Ovarian function preservation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy should be discussed and offered to every premenopausal woman concerned about developing premature ovarian insufficiency and independently of her wish to preserve fertility. Current available data confirm that pregnancy occurring after proper treatment for breast cancer is safe, both in terms of long-term clinical outcomes and for the babies. Fertility preservation and pregnancy desire should be pivotal components of the multimodal management of breast cancer in young women, and require a multidisciplinary approach based on close collaborations between oncologists and fertility specialists.

Germline TP53 pathogenic variants and breast cancer: A narrative review

Approximately 10% of breast cancers are associated with the inheritance of a pathogenic variant (PV) in one of the breast cancer susceptibility genes. Multiple breast cancer predisposing genes, including TP53, are responsible for the increased breast cancer risk. Tumor protein-53 (TP53) germline PVs are associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant inherited cancer predisposition syndrome associated with early-onset pediatric and multiple primary cancers such as soft tissue and bone sarcomas, breast cancer, brain tumors, adrenocortical carcinomas and leukemias. Women harboring a TP53 PV carry a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer of 80-90%. The aim of the present narrative review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the criteria for offering TP53 testing, prevalence of TP53 carriers among patients with breast cancer, and what is known about its prognostic and therapeutic implications. A summary of the current indications of secondary cancer surveillance and survivorship issues are also provided. Finally, the spectrum of TP53 alteration and testing is discussed. The optimal strategies for the treatment of breast cancer in patients harboring TP53 PVs poses certain challenges. Current guidelines favor the option of performing mastectomy rather than lumpectomy to avoid adjuvant radiotherapy and subsequent risk of radiation-induced second primary malignancies, with careful consideration of radiation when indicated post-mastectomy. Some studies suggest that patients with breast cancer and germline TP53 PV might have worse survival outcomes compared to patients with breast cancer and wild type germline TP53 status. Annual breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole-body MRI are recommended as secondary prevention.

The neglected role of preimplantation genetic testing for Lynch syndrome

Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic/single-gene disorders (PGT-M) is a procedure employed in the field of assisted reproductive technology to avoid the transmission of genetic diseases to the offspring. Hereditary cancer syndromes represent a diffuse and accepted indication for PGT-M, but take-up differs among the different disorders. Its use is markedly lower for the genes causing Lynch syndrome compared with the breast cancer type 1 or 2 susceptibility genes (BRCA1/2), despite the similar prevalence and severity of the two conditions. Reasons to explain this difference have not been explored. First, Lynch syndrome may be more frequently undiagnosed compared with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. In addition, the different take-up may be due to different patient perceptions of the conditions and of the management options. Finally, this distinct attitude may depend on the awareness and sensibility of the professionals caring for affected patients. The authors' considerations are, however, speculative, and specific studies aimed at disentangling the causes of the different receptions of PGT-M are warranted to understand how to tackle this gap. In the meantime, we believe that empowerment regarding PGT-M of all individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, is ethically due, and plead for a more active involvement of caregivers.

Should Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Systematically Be Proposed to BRCA Pathogenic Variant Carriers?

Over the past years, BRCA genes pathogenic variants have been associated to reproductive issues. Indeed, evidence indicate that BRCA-mutated patients are not only at higher risk of developing malignancies, but may also present a reduction of the follicular stockpile. Given these characteristics, BRCA patients may be candidates to fertility preservation (FP) techniques or preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to avoid the transmission of this inherited situation. Since the success rates of both procedures are highly related to the number of oocytes that could be recovered after ovarian stimulation, predicted by ovarian reserve tests, they are ideally performed before the diagnosis of cancer and its treatment. Despite the specific reproductive challenges related to BRCA status, no international guidelines for the application of PGT and FP in this subgroup of patients is currently available. The present article aims to review the available data regarding BRCA carriers' ovarian reserve and PGT success rates in oncologic and non-oncologic contexts, to determine the actual indication of PGT and further to improve patients' care pathway.

A novel multifunctional haplotyping-based preimplantation genetic testing for different genetic conditions

STUDY QUESTION

Is there an efficient and cost-effective detection platform for different genetic conditions about embryos?

SUMMARY ANSWER

A multifunctional haplotyping-based preimplantation genetic testing platform was provided for detecting different genetic conditions.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Genetic disease and chromosomal rearrangement have been known to significantly impact fertility and development. Therefore, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), monogenic disorders (PGT-M) and structural rearrangements (PGT-SR), a part of ART, has been presented together to minimize the fetal genetic risk and increase pregnancy rate. For patients or their families who are suffering from chromosome abnormality, monogenic disease, unexplained repeated spontaneous abortion or implantation failure, after accepting genetic counseling, they may be suggested to accept detection from more than one PGT platforms about the embryos to avoid some genetic diseases. However, PGT platforms work through different workflows. The high costliness, lack of material and long-time operation of combined PGT platforms limit their application.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

All 188 embryonic samples from 43 families were tested with HaploPGT platform, and most of their genetic abnormalities had been determined by different conventional PGT methods beforehand. Among them, there were 12 families only carrying structural rearrangements (115 embryos) in which 9 families accepted implantation and 5 families had normal labor ART outcomes, 7 families only carrying monogenic diseases (26 embryos) and 3 families carrying both structural rearrangements and monogenic diseases (26 embryos). Twelve monopronucleated zygotes (1PN) samples and 9 suspected triploid samples were collected from 21 families.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS

Here, we raised a comprehensive PGT method called HaploPGT, combining reduced representation genome sequencing, read-count analysis, B allele frequency and haplotyping analysis, to simultaneously detect different genetic disorders in one single test.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

With 80 million reads (80M) genomic data, the proportion of windows (1 million base pairs (Mb)) containing two or more informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites was 97.81%, meanwhile the genotyping error rate stabilized at a low level (2.19%). Furthermore, the informative SNPs were equally distributed across the genome, and whole-genomic haplotyping was established. Therefore, 80M was chosen to balance the cost and accuracy in HaploPGT. HaploPGT was able to identify abnormal embryos with triploid, global and partial loss of heterozygosity, and even to distinguish parental origin of copy number variation in mosaic and non-mosaic embryos. Besides, by retrospectively analyzing 188 embryonic samples from 43 families, HaploPGT revealed 100% concordance with the available results obtained from reference methods, including PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR and PGT-HLA.

LIMITATIONS, REASON FOR CAUTION

Despite the numerous benefits HaploPGT could bring, it still required additional family members to deduce the parental haplotype for identifying balanced translocation and monogenic mutation in tested embryos. In terms of PGT-SR, the additional family member could be a reference embryo with unbalanced translocation. For PGT-M, a proband was normally required. In both cases, genomic information from grandparents or parental siblings might help for haplotyping theoretically. Another restriction was that haploid, and diploid resulting from the duplication of a haploid, could not be told apart by HaploPGT, but it was able to recognize partial loss of heterozygosity in the embryonic genome. In addition, it should be noted that the location of rearrangement breakpoints and the situation of mutation sites were complicated, which meant that partial genetic disorders might not be completely detected.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

HaploPGT is an efficient and cost-effective detection platform with high clinical value for detecting genetic status. This platform could promote the application of PGT in ART, to increase pregnancy rate and decrease the birth of children with genetic diseases.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81873478, to L.H.), National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC1003100, to L.H.), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant 2022JJ30414, to P.X.), Hunan Provincial Grant for Innovative Province Construction (2019SK4012) and the Scientific Research Foundation of Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of China International Trust & Investment Corporation (CITIC)-Xiangya (YNXM-201910). Haplotyping analysis has been licensed to Basecare Co., Ltd. L.K., Y.M., K.K., D.Z., N.L., J.Z. and R.D. are Basecare Co., Ltd employees. The other authors declare no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

BRCA1/2 pathogenetic variant carriers and reproductive decisions: Gender differences and factors associated with the choice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and prenatal diagnosis (PND)

Purpose

To investigate the way carriers of a BRCA1/2 pathogenetic variant make their reproductive decisions and to examine the factors associated with the choice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and prenatal diagnosis (PND).

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method.

Results

A total of 16 articles published from 2000 to 2021 were included in this review. Data were overall collected from 3564 participants (86% females). Three important themes were identified across studies: changes in family planning, factors associated with family plans, and with acceptance or regret of PGD and PND.

Conclusion

This review may contribute to the knowledge of the experience of those who have a BRCA1/2 mutation and want a child. These results may help genetic counselors and healthcare professionals that support people with a BRCA pathogenetic variant with reproductive issues.

Installing oncofertility programs for breast cancer in limited versus optimum resource settings: Empirical data from 39 surveyed centers in Repro-Can-OPEN Study Part I & II

PURPOSE

As a further step to elucidate the actual diverse spectrum of oncofertility practices for breast cancer around the globe, we present and discuss the comparisons of oncofertility practices for breast cancer in limited versus optimum resource settings based on data collected in the Repro-Can-OPEN Study Part I & II.

METHODS

We surveyed 39 oncofertility centers including 14 in limited resource settings from Africa, Asia & Latin America (Repro-Can-OPEN Study Part I), and 25 in optimum resource settings from the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan (Repro-Can-OPEN Study Part II). Survey questions covered the availability of fertility preservation and restoration options offered to young female patients with breast cancer as well as the degree of utilization.

RESULTS

In the Repro-Can-OPEN Study Part I & II, responses for breast cancer and calculated oncofertility scores showed the following characteristics: (1) higher oncofertility scores in optimum resource settings than in limited resource settings especially for established options, (2) frequent utilization of egg freezing, embryo freezing, ovarian tissue freezing, GnRH analogs, and fractionation of chemo- and radiotherapy, (3) promising utilization of oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM), (4) rare utilization of neoadjuvant cytoprotective pharmacotherapy, artificial ovary, and stem cells reproductive technology as they are still in preclinical or early clinical research settings, (5) recognition that technical and ethical concerns should be considered when offering advanced and innovative oncofertility options.

CONCLUSIONS

We presented a plausible oncofertility best practice model to guide oncofertility teams in optimizing care for breast cancer patients in various resource settings.

Pregnancy after breast cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

Background

Often young women affected with BRCA1/2 positive breast cancer have not finished or even not started their childbearing before the onset of the disease. The aim of our mini-review is to summarize state of art knowledge on pregnancy after breast cancer in BRCA1/2 carriers.

Methods

A broad review of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE (via PubMed) for relevant articles published.

Main body of the abstract

This review summarizes the impact of different cytotoxic agents on a fertility, fertility preservation, maternal and fetal prognosis after pregnancy in breast cancer survivors with BRCA1/2.

Conclusion

According to the existing literature evidence pregnancy after therapy for breast cancer in BRCA carriers is safe for the mother and offspring, but patients’ needs, oncofertility counseling and fertility-sparing strategy should be carefully planned before starting the cytotoxic treatment.

Long-Term Outcomes with Pharmacological Ovarian Suppression during Chemotherapy in Premenopausal Early Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Although use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) during chemotherapy is an established strategy to protect ovarian function in premenopausal breast cancer patients, no long-term safety data are available raising some concerns in women with hormone receptor-positive disease. There are controversial data on its fertility preservation potential.

METHODS

The PROMISE-GIM6 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III superiority trial conducted at 16 Italian centers from October 2003 to January 2008. Eligible patients were randomized to (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy alone (control arm) or combined with the GnRHa triptorelin (GnRHa arm). Primary planned endpoint was incidence of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Post-hoc endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and post-treatment pregnancies. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 281 randomized patients, 80.4% had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Median follow-up was 12.4 years (interquartile range = 11.3-13.2 years). No differences in 12-year DFS (65.7% [95% CI = 57.0% to 73.1%] in GnRHa arm vs. 69.2% [95% CI = 60.3% to 76.5%] in control arm; HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.76 to 1.77) nor in 12-year OS (81.2% [95% CI = 73.6% to 86.8%] in GnRHa arm vs. 81.3% [95% CI = 73.1% to 87.2%] in control arm; HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.67 to 2.03) were observed. In patients with hormone receptor-positive disease, the HR was 1.02 (95% CI = 0.63 to 1.63) for DFS and 1.12 (95% CI = 0.59 to 2.11) for OS. In the GnRHa and control arms, 9 and 4 patients had a post-treatment pregnancy, respectively (HR = 2.14, 95% CI = 0.66 to 6.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Final analysis of the PROMISE-GIM6 trial provides reassuring results on the safety of GnRHa use during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer, including those with hormone receptor-positive disease.

Safety of assisted reproductive techniques in young women harboring germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 with a pregnancy after prior history of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Knowledge is growing on the safety of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in cancer survivors. No data exist, however, for the specific population of breast cancer patients harboring germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study across 30 centers worldwide including women diagnosed at ≤40 years with stage I-III breast cancer, between January 2000 and December 2012, harboring known germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. Patients included in this analysis had a post-treatment pregnancy either achieved through use of ART (ART group) or naturally (non-ART group). ART procedures included ovulation induction, ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo transfer under hormonal replacement therapy.

RESULTS

Among the 1424 patients registered in the study, 168 were eligible for inclusion in the present analysis, of whom 22 were in the ART group and 146 in the non-ART group. Survivors in the ART group conceived at an older age compared with those in the non-ART group (median age: 39.7 versus 35.4 years, respectively). Women in the ART group experienced more delivery complications compared with those in the non-ART group (22.1% versus 4.1%, respectively). No other apparent differences in obstetrical outcomes were observed between cohorts. The median follow-up from pregnancy was 3.4 years (range: 0.8-8.6 years) in the ART group and 5.0 years (range: 0.8-17.6 years) in the non-ART group. Two patients (9.1%) in the ART group experienced a disease-free survival event (specifically, a locoregional recurrence) compared with 40 patients (27.4%) in the non-ART group. In the ART group, no patients deceased compared with 10 patients (6.9%) in the non-ART group.

CONCLUSION

This study provides encouraging safety data on the use of ART in breast cancer survivors harboring germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2, when natural conception fails or when they opt for ART in order to carry out preimplantation genetic testing.

Reproductive issues in carriers of germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes: an expert meeting

BACKGROUND

Healthy individuals and patients with cancer who are carriers of germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes face multiple reproductive challenges that require appropriate counseling and specific expertise.

MAIN BODY

On December 5th-7th, 2019, patient advocates and physicians with expertise in the field of reproductive medicine, fertility preservation, and oncology were invited to "San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital in Avellino (Italy) for a workshop on reproductive management of women with germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes. From the discussion regarding the current evidence and future prospective in the field, eight main research questions were formulated and eight recommendations were developed regarding fertility, fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing, and pregnancy in healthy carriers and patients with cancer.

CONCLUSION

Several misconceptions about the topic persist among health care providers and patients often resulting in a discontinuous and suboptimal management. With the aim to offer patient-tailored counseling about reproductive issues, both awareness of current evidences and research should be promoted.

A call to action: unified clinical practice guidelines for oncofertility care

By 2030, WHO estimates that 1.4 million reproductive-aged women will be diagnosed with cancer annually. Fortunately, cancer is no longer considered an incurable disease in many cases. From 2008-2014, 85% of women under the age of 45 years diagnosed with cancer survived. This increase in survival rate has shifted attention from focusing exclusively on preserving life to focusing on preserving quality of life after treatment. One aspect of this is preserving the ability to have a biological family. Oncofertility, the field that bridges oncology and reproductive endocrinology with the goal of preserving fertility, offers these patients hope. Though it is clear that ASCO and ASRM recognize the importance of fertility preservation as an aspect of comprehensive oncology care, there are not yet unified guidelines for oncologists and fertility specialists for treating oncofertility patients. First, we identify the need for reproductive counseling prior to cancer treatment, as many patients report that their fertility preservation concerns are not addressed adequately. We then delineate multi-modal fertility preservation options that are available and appropriate for different patients with corresponding outcomes using different treatments. We discuss the unique challenges and considerations, including ethical dilemmas, for delivering timely and comprehensive care specifically for oncofertility patients. Finally, we address the multidisciplinary team that includes oncologists, reproductive endocrinologists, surgeons as well as their staff, nurses, genetic counselors, mental health professionals, and more. Since oncofertility patient care requires the coordination of both physician teams, one set of unified guidelines will greatly improve quality of care.

Comparing the Gonadotoxicity of Multiple Breast Cancer Regimens: Important Understanding for Managing Breast Cancer in Pre-Menopausal Women

Over the last several decades, improvements in breast cancer treatment have contributed to increased cure rates for women diagnosed with this malignancy. Consequently, great importance should be paid to the long-term side effects of systemic therapies. For young women (defined as per guideline ≤40 years at diagnosis) who undergo chemotherapy, one of the most impactful side effects on their quality of life is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) leading to fertility-related problems and the side effects of early menopause. Regimens, type, and doses of chemotherapy, as well as the age of patients and their ovarian reserve at the time of treatment are major risk factors for treatment-induced POI. For these reasons, childbearing desire and preservation of ovarian function and/or fertility should be discussed with all premenopausal patients before planning the treatments. This manuscript summarizes the available fertility preservation techniques in breast cancer patients, the risk of treatment-induced POI with different anticancer treatments, and the possible procedures to prevent it. A special focus is paid to the role of oncofertility counseling, as a central part of the visit in this setting, during which the patient should receive all the information about the potential consequences of the disease and of the proposed treatment on her future life.

Expanding the search for germline pathogenic variants for breast cancer. How far should we go and how high should we jump? The missed opportunity!

Since the identification of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes 3 decades ago, genetic testing and genetic counseling have become an integral part of routine clinical practice. The risk of breast cancer among carriers of germline pathogenic variants, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, is well established. Risk-reducing interventions, including bilateral mastectomies and salpingo-oophorectomies are both effective and have become more acceptable. Many researchers and professional societies view current guidelines as restrictive and may miss many at-risk women, and are calling to expand testing to include all patients with breast cancer, regardless of their personal or family history of cancer, while others are calling for wider adoption to even include all healthy women at age 30 or older. This review will address expanding testing in two directions; horizontally to include more patients, and even healthy women, and vertically to include more genes using next-generation sequencing-based multi-gene panel testing.