Influence of adjuvant chemotherapy on anti-Müllerian hormone in women below 35 years treated for early breast cancer

What reproductive follow-up for adolescent and young women after cancer? A review

Fertility capacity has been shown to be one of the main concerns of young cancer survivors. Gonadotoxic treatments may lead to both premature ovarian failure and/or infertility. This review aimed to define which, and when, reproductive indicators should be followed-up to help doctors to counsel patients regarding their fertility and ovarian function, and to determine if a second stage of fertility preservation after the end of cancer treatment is clinically relevant. Longitudinal assessment of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations during cancer treatment indicates the degree of follicular depletion, and allows discrimination between low and high gonadotoxic treatments. Sustained low AMH concentrations after treatment, especially in the case of alkylating protocols, may reduce the duration of the conception window significantly, and expose the patient to the risk of premature ovarian failure. It remains unknown whether this may impact further fertility capacity because of the lack of systematic follow-up of adolescent and young adult (AYA) women after chemo-radiotherapy. It appears that dedicated reproductive follow-up of AYA women under cancer treatment is needed to refine fertility preservation strategies, and to determine if low AMH concentrations after treatment impact the chance of pregnancy in this specific survivor population.

The protective effect of vitamin D on ovarian reserve and anti-mullerian hormone in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, a randomized phase ΙΙ clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Reduced ovarian reserve is among the crucial long-term side effects of using chemotherapy agents in breast cancer, yielding early ovarian failure. On the other hand, vitamin D is an essential factor in protecting the follicles and an important predictive factor for successful IVF therapy.

AIM

The aim of this study is evaluation of vitamin D as a agent that can reduce fertility complications of chemotherapy specially in young women.

METHODS

Breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at two cancer institutes were enrolled in this study. The case group received 1000 IU of calcitriol, and the AMH level was measured at the baseline, after chemotherapy, and six months after chemotherapy. The primary end point was improvement in the AMH level after six months of chemotherapy. the secondary endpoint was to evaluate the predictive factors of AMH level decline during chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Between 2018 and 2019, 18 and 15 patients were enrolled in the case and control groups, respectively. The mean AMH level (ngr/ml) of the patients in the case and control group were 3.16 and 2.37 ng/mL, respectively (p-value = .16). These levels were 0.387 and 0.19 after six months (p-value = .38). The AMH rise immediately after chemotherapy cycles to six months after chemotherapy, in the case and control groups were 0.86 and 0.44 ng/mL, respectively, which was slightly higher in the case group but not statistically significant between two groups (p-value = .054).

CONCLUSION

Despite a minimal rise in the AMH level after six months of chemotherapy, the study could not demonstrate any protective effect of vitamin D on patients' ovarian reserve undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Further larger studies are needed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplements on ovarian reserve beside optimal dose and duration.

Fertility preservation in patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatments: a Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society clinical practice guideline

The management of young patients with cancer presents several unique challenges. In general, these patients are ill prepared for the diagnosis and the impact on their fertility. With the improved survival for all tumour types and stages, the need for adequate fertility counselling and a multidisciplinary approach in the reproductive care of these patients is paramount. Recent advances in cryopreservation techniques allow for the banking of spermatozoa, oocytes, embryos and ovarian tissue without compromising survival. This Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) guideline outlines the current understanding of social and medical issues associated with oncofertility, and the medical and surgical technologies available to optimize future fertility.

Evaluation of the Gonadotoxicity of Cancer Therapies to Improve Counseling of Patients About Fertility and Fertility Preservation Measures: Protocol for a Retrospective Systematic Data Analysis and a Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic treatments such as chemo- and radiotherapy and immune therapies are required in cancer diseases. These therapies have the potential to cure patients but may also have an impact on gonadal function and, therefore, on fertility. Consequently, fertility preservation treatments such as freezing of gametes and gonadal tissue might be required. However, as detailed data about the necessity to perform fertility preservation treatment are very limited, this study was designed to fill this data gap.

OBJECTIVE

Primary objective of this study is to analyze the impact of cancer therapies and chemotherapies on the ovarian reserve and sperm quality. Secondary objectives are to analyze the (1) impact of cancer therapies and chemotherapies on other fertility parameters and (2) probability of undergoing fertility preservation treatments in relation to specific cancer diseases and treatment protocols and the probability to use the frozen gametes and gonadal tissue to achieve pregnancies.

METHODS

First, previously published studies on the gonadotoxicity of chemo- and radiotherapies among patients with cancer will be systematically analyzed. Second, a prospective cohort study set up by approximately 70 centers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria will collect the following data: ovarian function by analyzing anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations and testicular function by analyzing sperm parameters and total testosterone immediately before and around 1 year after gonadotoxic therapies (short-term fertility). A follow-up of these fertility parameters, including history of conceptions, will be performed 5 and 10 years after gonadotoxic therapies (long-term fertility). Additionally, the proportion of patients undergoing fertility-preserving procedures, their satisfaction with these procedures, and the amount of gametes and gonadal tissue and the children achieved by using the frozen material will be analyzed. Third, the data will be merged to create the internet-based data platform FertiTOX. The platform will be structured in accordance with the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) classification of cancer diseases and will be easily be accessible using a specific App.

RESULTS

Several funding bodies have funded this study. Ten systematic reviews are in progress and the first one has been accepted for publication. All Swiss and many German and Austrian ethics committees have provided their approval for the prospective cohort study. The study registry has been set up, and a study website has been created. In total, 50 infertility centers have already been prepared for data collection, which started on December 1, 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

The study can be expected to bridge the data gap regarding the gonadotoxicity of cancer therapies to better counsel patients about their infertility risk and their need to undergo fertility preservation procedures. Initial data are expected to be uploaded on the FertiTOX platform in 2026.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05885048; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05885048.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/51145.

What should be done in terms of fertility preservation for patients with cancer? The French 2021 guidelines

AIM

To provide practice guidelines about fertility preservation (FP) in oncology.

METHODS

We selected 400 articles after a PubMed review of the literature (1987-2019).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Any child, adolescent and adult of reproductive age should be informed about the risk of treatment gonadotoxicity. In women, systematically proposed FP counselling between 15 and 38 years of age in case of treatment including bifunctional alkylating agents, above 6 g/m2 cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED), and for radiation doses on the ovaries ≥3 Gy. For postmenarchal patients, oocyte cryopreservation after ovarian stimulation is the first-line FP technique. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be discussed as a first-line approach in case of treatment with a high gonadotoxic risk, when chemotherapy has already started and in urgent cases. Ovarian transposition is to be discussed prior to pelvic radiotherapy involving a high risk of premature ovarian failure. For prepubertal girls, ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be proposed in the case of treatment with a high gonadotoxic risk. In pubertal males, sperm cryopreservation must be systematically offered to any male who is to undergo cancer treatment, regardless of toxicity. Testicular tissue cryopreservation must be proposed in males unable to cryopreserve sperm who are to undergo a treatment with intermediate or severe risk of gonadotoxicity. In prepubertal boys, testicular tissue preservation is: - recommended for chemotherapy with a CED ≥7500 mg/m2 or radiotherapy ≥3 Gy on both testicles. - proposed for chemotherapy with a CED ≥5.000 mg/m2 or radiotherapy ≥2 Gy. If several possible strategies, the ultimate choice is made by the patient.

Is ovarian recovery after chemotherapy in young patients with early breast cancer influenced by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for fertility preservation or tumor characteristics? Results of a prospective study in 126 patients

Young individuals, aged <40 years, represent 7% of all patients with early breast cancer (EBC), most of whom receive chemotherapy. Preserving future fertility in these patients has become a major concern. This prospective study assessed ovarian function during and after chemotherapy according to patient and tumor characteristics and evaluated the outcome of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Ovarian reserve was evaluated in terms of amenorrhea duration and by longitudinal serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level variations measured at study entry, during treatment, and until 24 months thereafter. COH has been proposed for patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. We studied the association between clinical factors and ovarian function using Cox models and logistic regression. In this young population (age <38 years, median=32), 85 of 90 evaluable patients (94%) experienced chemo-induced amenorrhea, including six persistent amenorrhea and one chemotherapy-induced definitive ovarian failure. Overall, 33% of patients still had undetectable AMH values 12 months after the end of chemotherapy, although most had recovered spontaneous and regular menstrual function. No specific factor was associated with clinical or biological late ovarian dysfunction, except for age and baseline AMH value. Overall, 58 patients underwent COH. The mean number of total retrieved oocytes and metaphase II oocytes were of 11.7 and 6.9, respectively. Thus, our study confirms the importance of fertility preservation in young patients with EBC. Our findings indicates that sequential chemotherapy is associated with a higher risk of persistent amenorrhea. There was no significant association between tumor characteristics, fertility preservation, or recovery of ovarian reserve. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The effects and mechanism of taxanes on chemotherapy-associated ovarian damage: A review of current evidence

Chemotherapy is often a cause of premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility since the ovarian follicles are extremely sensitive to the effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Different chemotherapeutic agents with varying mechanisms of action may damage ovarian function differently. Taxanes are widely used in clinical cancer treatment, but the specific reproductive toxicological information is still controversial. This review described the impact and duration of taxanes on ovarian function in women and analyzed the possible reasons for different conclusions. Furthermore, the toxicity of taxanes on ovarian function and its possible mechanisms were discussed. The potential protective strategies and agents against ovarian damage induced by taxanes are also reviewed.

Ovarian Reserve after Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in the female population. In recent years, its diagnosis in young women has increased, together with a growing desire to become pregnant later in life. Although there is evidence about the detrimental effect of chemotherapy (CT) on the menses cycle, a practical tool to measure ovarian reserve is still missing. Recently, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has been considered a good surrogate for ovarian reserve. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of CT on AMH value.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases on articles retrieved from inception until February 2021. Trials evaluating ovarian reserves before and after CT in BC were included. We excluded case reports, case-series with fewer than ten patients, reviews (narrative or systematic), communications and perspectives. Studies in languages other than English or with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients were also excluded. AMH reduction was the main endpoint. Egger's and Begg's tests were used to assess the risk of publication bias.

RESULTS

Eighteen trials were included from the 833 examined. A statistically significant decline in serum AMH concentration was found after CT, persisting even after years, with an overall reduction of -1.97 (95% CI: -3.12, -0.82). No significant differences in ovarian reserve loss were found in the BRCA1/2 mutation carriers compared to wild-type patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study has some limitations, including publication bias, failure to stratify the results by some important factors and low to medium quality of the studies included, this metanalysis demonstrates that the level of AMH markedly falls after CT in BC patients, corresponding to a reduction in ovarian reserve. These findings should be routinely discussed during oncofertility counseling and used to guide fertility preservation choices in young women before starting treatment.

Hydroxycarbamide exposure and ovarian reserve in women with sickle cell disease in the Multicenter Study of Hydroxycarbamide

The application of modern ovarian reserve measures to women with sickle cell disease (SCD) may help answer longstanding questions about whether SCD or hydroxycarbamide (HC; also known as hydroxyurea) affect women's reproductive lifespan. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), an established marker of ovarian reserve, is used to assess the ovarian follicle pool. We used a standard clinical assay to measure AMH in 285 banked samples from 93 female subjects with haemoglobin SS from the historic Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea (MSH), which led to the United States Food and Drug Administration approval of HC for adults with SCD. No samples from the randomised portion of the MSH remain, so samples from the decade-long MSH follow-up studies were analysed. Most subjects were exposed to HC (86/93). The median AMH levels were lower in study subjects than in age- and sex-matched reference values. The median AMH levels consistent with diminished ovarian reserve, a risk factor for infertility, occurred in subjects starting at the age of 25-30 years; in healthy women, this occurs after the age of 40 years. In multivariate analysis, taking HC was independently associated with a low AMH (β = 0·001, 95% confidence interval -0·002 to 0·000; P = 0·006). These results suggest that ovarian reserve is prematurely reduced in women with haemoglobin SS and raise the possibility that HC contributes to this finding.

Cytotoxic Activity of Antineoplastic Agents on Fertility: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

 To analyze the long-term effects of antineoplastic treatments on patient fertility.

SELECTION OF STUDIES

 The studies were selected through the New PubMed, Scielo and Lilacs databases along with references used for the creation of the present work. For the selection of studies, articles published between the periods from January 1, 2015 to April 6, 2020 in the English, Portuguese and Spanish languages were used. As inclusion criteria: cohort studies and studies conducted in vitro. As exclusion criteria: review articles, reported cases, studies that do not address thematic reproduction, studies that do not address the cancer theme, articles that used animals, articles that address the preservation of fertility and articles in duplicate in the bases.

DATA COLLECTION

 The collected data included: age of the patient at the beginning of treatment, type of neoplasm, type of antineoplastic treatment, chemotherapy used, radiotherapy dosage, radiotherapy site, effect of antineoplastic agents on fertility and number of patients in the study.

DATA SYNTHESIS

 Thirty studies were evaluated, antineoplastic chemotherapy agents and radiotherapy modulate serum hormone levels, reduces germ cell quantities and correlated with an increase in sterility rates. The effects mentioned occur in patients in the prepubertal and postpubertal age.

CONCLUSION

 Antineoplastic treatments have cytotoxic effects on the germ cells leading to hormonal modulation, and pubertal status does not interfere with the cytotoxic action of therapies.

Effect of Timing of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Administration for Ovarian Protection in Patients with Breast Cancer

Purpose

This study was performed to investigate the effect of the interval between the start of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and the start of chemotherapy on ovarian protection in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

This was a prospective observational cohort study that included 136 patients with breast cancer below 40 years who received GnRHa during chemotherapy for fertility preservation. Plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured before chemotherapy (baseline) and after chemotherapy. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to the interval between the start of GnRHa and the start of chemotherapy for analysis: 1–6 days, 7–13 days, and ≥ 14 days. The ratio of the post-chemotherapy AMH value to the baseline AMH (pcAMH) at each time point were compared among the 3 groups. Ranked analysis of covariance was used for statistical analysis, adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and the existence of polycystic ovaries (PCOs). In addition, recovery of ovarian function (AMH ≥ 1 ng/mL) at 12 months was evaluated.

Results

The median age of the patients was 32 years. There was no difference in the baseline AMH levels among the 3 groups (mean ± standard error: 5.0 ± 0.4 ng/mL [1–6 days], 5.3 ± 0.7 ng/mL [7–13 days], and 8.1 ± 1.3 ng/mL [≥ 14 days]; p = 0.250). The pcAMH at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were not significantly different among the 3 groups (p-values were 0.332, 0.732, 0.830, 0.148, and 0.393, respectively). In multivariate analysis, young age (p = 0.024), low BMI (p = 0.013), and the existence of PCO (p = 0.015) were predictors for AMH ≥ 1 ng/mL at 12 months.

Conclusion

There was no difference in the ovarian protective effect according to the difference in the timing of administration of GnRHa.

Adverse reproductive health outcomes in a cohort of young women with breast cancer exposed to systemic treatments

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in young women. Fortunately current survival rates of BC are significant which makes future fertility very important for quality of life of BC survivors. Chemotherapy carries a significant risk of infertility in BC patients so it is important to support fertility preservation decisions in premenopausal women. Amenorrhea has long been used as a surrogate marker of infertility in cancer patients but more reliable ovarian reserve (OR) markers are available. This study aimed to prospectively measure levels of OR in a cohort of young women with breast cancer exposed to chemotherapy, to identify adverse reproductive health outcomes in this population and to assess the influence of patient and treatment-related factors in those outcomes.

Methods

This prospective observational study included premenopausal women with breast cancer aged 18–40 years at diagnosis and proposed for (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were evaluated before, during and a minimum of 9 months after the end of chemotherapy. Reproductive health outcomes: menses, hormonal and ultrasound OR markers, recovery of ovarian function and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI).

Results

A total of 38 patients were included (mean age 32.9 ± 3.5 years). Levels of OR significantly decreased during the study. At the last follow up, 35 patients had AMH below the expected values for age; eight presented postmenopausal FSH; ten had not recovered their ovarian function and five met the defined criteria for POI. Age and baseline AMH were positively correlated with AMH at the last follow-up. AMH levels were higher in the group of patients treated with trastuzumab and lower in those under hormonal therapy, at the last follow-up.

Conclusions

Significant effects of systemic treatments on several reproductive outcomes and a strong relation of those outcomes with patient’s age and baseline level of AMH were observed. Our results point to a possible lower gonadotoxicity when treatment includes targeted therapy with trastuzumab. Also, this investigation highlights the lack of reliable OR markers in women under hormonal therapy.

Impact of Taxanes, Endocrine Therapy, and Deleterious Germline BRCA Mutations on Anti-müllerian Hormone Levels in Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Anthracycline- and Cyclophosphamide-Based Chemotherapy

Background: Limited evidence exists on the impact of adding a taxane, using endocrine therapy and carrying a deleterious germline BRCA mutation on ovarian reserve measured by anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of young breast cancer patients receiving (neo)adjuvant cyclophosphamide- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Methods: This is a biomarker analysis including young (≤ 40 years) early breast cancer patients with known germline BRCA mutational status and available prospectively collected frozen plasma samples before and after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of either six cycles of FEC (5 fluorouracil 500 mg/m², epirubicin 100 mg/m², cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m²) or three cycles of FEC followed by three cycles of docetaxel (D, 100 mg/m²). Endocrine therapy consisted of tamoxifen (±GnRH agonists). AMH levels at baseline, 1 and 3 years after diagnosis were compared according to type of chemotherapy (FEC only vs. FEC-D), use of endocrine therapy (yes vs. no) and deleterious germline BRCA mutations (mutated vs. negative).

Results: Out of 148 included patients, 127 (86%) received D following FEC chemotherapy, 90 (61%) underwent endocrine therapy, and 35 (24%) had deleterious germline BRCA mutations. In the whole cohort, AMH levels drastically dropped 1 year after diagnosis (p < 0.0001) with a slight but significant recovery at 3 years (p < 0.0001). One year after diagnosis, patients treated with FEC only had higher median AMH levels than those who received FEC-D (0.22 vs. 0.04 μg/L, p = 0.0006); no difference was observed at 3 years (0.06 and 0.18 μg/L, p = 0.47). Patients under endocrine therapy had significantly higher AMH levels than those who did not receive this treatment 1 year after diagnosis (0.12 vs. 0.02 μg/L; p = 0.008), with no difference at 3 years (0.11 and 0.20 μg/L, p = 0.22). AMH levels were similar between BRCA-mutated and BRCA-negative patients at baseline (1.94 vs. 1.66 μg/L, p = 0.53), 1 year (0.09 vs. 0.06 μg/L, p = 0.39) and 3 years (0.25 vs. 0.16 μg/L; p = 0.43) after diagnosis.

Conclusions: In breast cancer patients receiving FEC chemotherapy, adding D appeared to negatively impact on their ovarian reserve in the short-term; no further detrimental effect was observed for endocrine therapy use and presence of a deleterious germline BRCA mutation.

Impact of Taxanes, Endocrine Therapy, and Deleterious Germline BRCA Mutations on Anti-müllerian Hormone Levels in Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Anthracycline- and Cyclophosphamide-Based Chemotherapy

Background: Limited evidence exists on the impact of adding a taxane, using endocrine therapy and carrying a deleterious germline BRCA mutation on ovarian reserve measured by anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of young breast cancer patients receiving (neo)adjuvant cyclophosphamide- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Methods: This is a biomarker analysis including young (≤ 40 years) early breast cancer patients with known germline BRCA mutational status and available prospectively collected frozen plasma samples before and after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of either six cycles of FEC (5 fluorouracil 500 mg/m², epirubicin 100 mg/m², cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m²) or three cycles of FEC followed by three cycles of docetaxel (D, 100 mg/m²). Endocrine therapy consisted of tamoxifen (±GnRH agonists). AMH levels at baseline, 1 and 3 years after diagnosis were compared according to type of chemotherapy (FEC only vs. FEC-D), use of endocrine therapy (yes vs. no) and deleterious germline BRCA mutations (mutated vs. negative). Results: Out of 148 included patients, 127 (86%) received D following FEC chemotherapy, 90 (61%) underwent endocrine therapy, and 35 (24%) had deleterious germline BRCA mutations. In the whole cohort, AMH levels drastically dropped 1 year after diagnosis (p < 0.0001) with a slight but significant recovery at 3 years (p < 0.0001). One year after diagnosis, patients treated with FEC only had higher median AMH levels than those who received FEC-D (0.22 vs. 0.04 μg/L, p = 0.0006); no difference was observed at 3 years (0.06 and 0.18 μg/L, p = 0.47). Patients under endocrine therapy had significantly higher AMH levels than those who did not receive this treatment 1 year after diagnosis (0.12 vs. 0.02 μg/L; p = 0.008), with no difference at 3 years (0.11 and 0.20 μg/L, p = 0.22). AMH levels were similar between BRCA-mutated and BRCA-negative patients at baseline (1.94 vs. 1.66 μg/L, p = 0.53), 1 year (0.09 vs. 0.06 μg/L, p = 0.39) and 3 years (0.25 vs. 0.16 μg/L; p = 0.43) after diagnosis. Conclusions: In breast cancer patients receiving FEC chemotherapy, adding D appeared to negatively impact on their ovarian reserve in the short-term; no further detrimental effect was observed for endocrine therapy use and presence of a deleterious germline BRCA mutation.