Outcomes of the First Pregnancy After Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer

Assessing gaps in motherhood after cancer: development and psychometric testing of the Survivorship Oncofertility Barriers Scale

OBJECTIVE

With a growing population of young cancer survivors, there is an increasing need to address the gaps in evidence regarding cancer survivors' obstetric outcomes, fertility care access, and experiences. As part of a large research program, this study engaged survivors and experts in co-developing and testing the validity, reliability, acceptability, and feasibility of a scale to assess survivor-reported barriers to motherhood after cancer.

METHODS

Scale items were developed based on literature and expert review of 226 reproductive health items, and six experience and focus groups with 26 survivors of breast and gynecological cancers. We then invited 128 survivors to complete the scale twice, 48 hours apart, and assessed the scale's psychometric properties using exploratory factor analyses including reliability, known-group validity, and convergent validity.

RESULTS

Item development identified three primary themes: multifaceted barriers for cancer survivors; challenging decisions about whether and how to pursue motherhood; and a timely need for evidence about obstetric outcomes. Retained items were developed into a 24-item prototype scale with four subscales. Prototype testing showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.71) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.70). Known-group validity was supported; the scale discriminated between groups by age (x=70.0 for patients ≥35 years old vs 54.5 for patients <35 years old, p=0.02) and years since diagnosis (x=71.5 for ≥6 years vs 54.3 for<6 years, p=0.01). The financial subscale was correlated with the Economic StraiN and Resilience in Cancer measure of financial toxicity (ρ=0.39, p<0.001). The scale was acceptable and feasibly delivered online. The final 22-item scale is organized in four subscales: personal, medical, relational, and financial barriers to motherhood.

CONCLUSION

The Survivorship Oncofertility Barriers Scale demonstrated validity, reliability, and was acceptable and feasible when delivered online. Implementing the scale can gather the data needed to inform shared decision making and to address disparities in fertility care for survivors.

Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study

PURPOSE

Equitable access to oncofertility services is a key component of cancer survivorship care, but factors affecting access and use remain understudied.

METHODS

To describe disparities in assisted reproductive technology (ART) use among women with breast cancer in California, we conducted a population-based cohort study using linked oncology, ART, and demographic data. We identified women age 18-45 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2000 and 2015. The primary outcome was ART use-including oocyte/embryo cryopreservation or embryo transfer-after cancer diagnosis. We used log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify factors associated with ART use.

RESULTS

Among 36,468 women with invasive breast cancer, 206 (0.56%) used ART. Women significantly less likely to use ART were age 36-45 years at diagnosis (vs. 18-35 years: PR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.13-0.22); non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic White: PR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.21-0.46); had at least one child (vs. no children: adjusted PR [aPR] = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25-0.60); or lived in non-urban areas (vs. urban: aPR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.10-0.75), whereas women more likely to use ART lived in high-SES areas (vs. low-/middle-SES areas: aPR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.04-4.20) or had private insurance (vs. public/other insurance: aPR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.59-5.49).

CONCLUSION

Women with breast cancer who are socially or economically disadvantaged, or who already had a child, are substantially less likely to use ART after diagnosis. The implementation of policies or programs targeting more equitable access to fertility services for women with cancer is warranted.

Disparities in Fertility-Sparing Treatment and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology After a Diagnosis of Cervical, Ovarian, or Endometrial Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the presence of sociodemographic and clinical disparities in fertility-sparing treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) use among patients with a history of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study of patients aged 18-45 years who were diagnosed with cervical cancer (stage IA, IB), endometrial cancer (grade 1, stage IA, IB), or ovarian cancer (stage IA, IC) between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015, using linked data from the CCR (California Cancer Registry), the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. The primary outcome was receipt of fertility-sparing treatment , defined as surgical or medical treatment to preserve the uterus and at least one ovary. The secondary outcome was fertility preservation , defined as ART use after cancer diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% CIs for the association between fertility-sparing treatment and exposures of interest: age at diagnosis, race and ethnicity, health insurance, socioeconomic status, rurality, and parity.

RESULTS

We identified 7,736 patients who were diagnosed with cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer with eligible histology. There were 850 (18.8%) fertility-sparing procedures among 4,521 cases of cervical cancer, 108 (7.2%) among 1,504 cases of endometrial cancer, and 741 (43.3%) among 1,711 cases of ovarian cancer. Analyses demonstrated nonuniform patterns of sociodemographic disparities by cancer type for fertility-sparing treatment, and ART. Fertility-sparing treatment was more likely among young patients, overall, and of those in racial and ethnic minority groups among survivors of cervical and ovarian cancer. Use of ART was low (n=52) and was associated with a non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity designation, being of younger age (18-35 years), and having private insurance.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that clinical and sociodemographic disparities exist in the receipt of fertility-sparing treatment and ART use among patients with a history of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes of cancer survivors and infectious disease in their infants: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

Birth cohort studies examining pregnancy and infant outcomes among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have been limited. The present study examined whether AYA cancer affects pregnancy outcomes of survivors and infectious diseases in their infants up to 1 year of age. Pregnant women were recruited for the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide, large-scale, prospective cohort study. The present study included 103,060 pregnant women and collected questionnaire-based data during the first and second/third trimester, and at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after delivery. Adverse pregnancy outcomes and infectious diseases in infants up to 1 year of age were compared between AYA cancer survivors and pregnant women without a history of cancer using binominal logistic regression analyses and a multiple imputation method. Of 99,816 participants (3,244 were missing), 1,102 (1.1%) had a cancer history, including 812 participants (0.8%) with a history of cervical cancer. Among cervical cancer survivors, the adjusted (a)ORs were as follows: 3.25 (95% CI, 2.31-4.57; q=0.00) for a preterm birth <34 weeks' gestation; 2.82 (95% CI, 2.31-3.44; q=0.00) for a preterm birth <37 weeks' gestation; and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.36-2.06; q=0.00) for premature rupture of the membrane. Among the other cancer survivors, the aOR for caesarean section was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.10-1.87; q=0.0). Furthermore, lower respiratory tract inflammation in 1-year-old infants born by vaginal delivery increased significantly in cases with a history of cervical cancer (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.33-2.36; q=0.00). The present study identified the risk of lower respiratory tract inflammation in 1-year-old infants born by vaginal delivery in cervical cancer survivors for the first time. In addition, the frequency of caesarean section increased in all cancer survivors. No risk of congenital anomalies or other infections were found in the total group of cancer survivors.

Laparoscopic Radical Trachelectomy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Fertility Preservation in Early-Stage Bulky Cervical Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Management of early-stage cervical cancer (CC) in young women often faces challenges to preserve fertility, as well as to achieve an adequate oncological outcome. Although existing evidence supports a fertility-sparing treatment in the case of tumors <2 cm in diameter, the approach is less clear in bulky early-stage CC. In addition, the outcomes of radical trachelectomy performed by minimally invasive techniques are also highly debatable. Highlighting the high incidences of young women with early-stage CC, the lack of sufficient data raises considerable hindrances towards the proper counseling of this vulnerable patient group. In this report, a case of a young woman with bulky early-stage CC with a strong desire to preserve fertility is presented. A satisfactory oncological outcome was achieved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by laparoscopic radical trachelectomy. Ongoing prospective trials are expected to provide stronger evidence on this topic.

Outcomes of Pregnancies and Deliveries of Patients Who Underwent Fertility-Preserving Surgery for Early-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Some studies have shown increased risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean delivery after oncologic treatment; others have shown the opposite. We evaluated the outcomes of pregnancies and deliveries of patients who underwent fertility-preserving surgery (FSS) for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and examined their perinatal prognosis. This retrospective study included women with a history of stage IA or IC ovarian cancer reported in our previous study. The primary outcome was preterm birth after cancer diagnosis was considered. Secondary outcomes were neonatal morbidity and severe maternal morbidity. Thirty-one children were born to 25 women who had undergone FSS. The mean number of weeks at delivery was 38.7 ± 0.7, and the mean birth weight of infants was 3021 ± 160 g. With respect to pregnancy outcomes, 5 patients had preterm labor and 26 had full-term labor. The delivery mode was vaginal delivery in 18 patients and cesarean delivery in 13. Complications during pregnancy included placenta previa (one case) and pelvic abscess (one case). Except for three preterm infants with low birth weight, there were no other perinatal abnormalities. Pregnancy after fertility preservation in EOC has an excellent perinatal prognosis, although the cesarean delivery rate is high.