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Ferrari F, Amonti J, Giannini A, Soleymani Majd H, Zizioli V, Tisi G, Della Corte L, Bonetti E, Gozzini E, Odicino F. Sexual Function in Women Diagnosed with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2601. [PMID: 39061239 PMCID: PMC11274699 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16142601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) predisposes women to an increased risk mainly of breast and tubo-ovarian cancer. The aim of the study is to investigate whether being diagnosed with HBOC syndrome is itself a risk factor for sexual dysfunction. METHODS An ad hoc questionnaire, including baseline demographic and clinical data, and the Sexual Function Questionnaire 28 (SFQ28) were administered to HBOC female carriers (study group) and to a control group. RESULTS After propensity score matching (1:1), we enrolled 202 women, 101 in the study group and 101 in the control group. In a multivariate analysis, we finally found that menopausal status was the only risk factor for a significant low score in the domains Desire (HR 0.66; CI95% 0.47-0.93; p = 0.017), Arousal (Lubrication) (HR 0.52; CI95% 0.34-0.80; p = 0.003), Arousal (Cognitive) (HR 0.64; CI95% 0.44-0.95; p = 0.027), and Orgasm (HR 0.33; CI95% (0.16-0.70; p = 0.004), independent of risk-reducing surgery for gynecological malignancy. Psycho-oncology support is a protective factor for the Enjoyment domain (HR 1.38; CI95% 1.05-1.81; p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS HBOC syndrome itself does not affect SFQ28 domains, while menopausal status significantly influences sexual health, with potential mitigating effects of psycho-oncological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy
| | - Juri Amonti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Giannini
- Unit of Gynecology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Hooman Soleymani Majd
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Valentina Zizioli
- Struttura Complessa Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Dipartimento Area della Donna e Materno Infantile, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy (E.G.)
| | - Giancarlo Tisi
- Struttura Complessa Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Dipartimento Area della Donna e Materno Infantile, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy (E.G.)
| | - Luigi Della Corte
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Emma Bonetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisa Gozzini
- Struttura Complessa Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Dipartimento Area della Donna e Materno Infantile, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy (E.G.)
| | - Franco Odicino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25136 Brescia, Italy
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Holtzman S, McCarthy L, Estevez SL, Lee JA, Baird MF, Gounko D, Copperman AB, Blank SV. Walking the tightrope: Fertility preservation among hereditary breast and ovarian Cancer syndrome Previvors. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 186:176-181. [PMID: 38696905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fertility-related concerns cause significant anxiety among patients with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC). The Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommend patients diagnosed with HBOC receive early referral to a reproductive endocrinologist. However, evidence about fertility trends in this patient population are limited and guidelines are scarce. The aim of this study is to compare fertility preservation among patients with HBOC to control patients undergoing fertility treatment without a diagnosis of infertility. METHODS This retrospective study included patients who presented to a single academic institution for fertility preservation in the setting of diagnosis of HBOC. In this study, HBOC patients are referred to as those who had tested positive for pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 or were at high-risk for HBOC based on a strong family history (defined as >3 family members diagnosed with HBOC) without a genetic mutation. HBOC patients were matched in a 1:1 fashion to a control group undergoing fertility preservation without a diagnosis of infertility or HBOC. All analysis was done using SPSS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS Between August 1st, 2016 and August 1st, 2022, 81 patients presented to the study center for consultation in the setting of HBOC. Of those who presented, 48 (59.2%) ultimately underwent oocyte cryopreservation and 33 (40.7%) underwent embryo cryopreservation. Patients who underwent oocyte cryopreservation due to BRCA1 status were more likely to present for fertility consultation at a younger age compared to control patients (32.6 vs. 34.7 years, p = 0.03) and were more likely to undergo oocyte cryopreservation at a younger age (32.1 vs. 34.6 years, p = 0.007). There was no difference in age at initial consultation or age at procedure for patients with BRCA2 or patients with a strong family history compared to control patients (p > 0.05). There was no difference in the mean age of patients with HBOC at presentation for consultation for embryo cryopreservation or the mean age the patient with HBOC underwent embryo cryopreservation compared to control patients (p > 0.05). Patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 did not have expedited time from consultation to first cycle start (p > 0.05). After adjusting for factors including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and age, patients considered in the HBOC group due to family history had less time between consultation and oocyte cryopreservation cycle compared to control patients. (179 vs. 317 days, p = 0.045). There was no difference in time from consultation to starting cycle for embryo cryopreservation for patients with HBOC compared to controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with HBOC did not undergo expedited fertility treatment compared to control patients undergoing oocyte and embryo cryopreservation for non-infertility reasons. Patients diagnosed with BRCA1 had more oocytes retrieved compared to the control population which is possibly due to earlier age of presentation in the setting of recommended age of risk reducing surgery being age 35-40. When age matched, cycle outcomes did not differ between HBOC and control patients. Given the known cancer prevention benefit and recommendations for risk-reducing surgery, future studies should focus on guidelines for fertility preservation for patients with HBOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharonne Holtzman
- Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Lily McCarthy
- Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samantha L Estevez
- Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, New York, NY, USA; Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph A Lee
- Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan F Baird
- Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dmitry Gounko
- Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan B Copperman
- Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, New York, NY, USA; Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie V Blank
- Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, New York, NY, USA
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Scotto L, Pizzoli SFM, Marzorati C, Mazzocco K, Pravettoni G. The impact of prophylactic mastectomy on sexual well-being: a systematic review. Sex Med Rev 2024; 12:164-177. [PMID: 38185919 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Considering the increasing women's awareness of health promotion and disease prevention programs, mutation carriers are inevitably asked to face important decisions concerning the possibility of undergoing prophylactic mastectomy. Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) has become increasingly more common, although it has a significant impact on women's quality of life and sexual well-being. OBJECTIVES The systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of RRM on the sexuality of women with breast cancer. METHODS According to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, the study quantified the effects of frontline work on the mental health of healthcare workers. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were systematically searched from inception to December 2022. The expression ("sexuality" OR "sexual" OR "sex") AND ("prophylactic mastectomy" OR "risk-reducing mastectomy") was searched in PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Embase. Twenty-two articles published in English until 2022 were selected. RESULTS Two studies investigated sexual experience after risk-reducing surgeries as a single outcome, while other studies analyzed the relationship between sexuality and psychosocial outcomes, risk perception, and satisfaction. In all of the included studies, significant findings in sexual dysfunction were found. The most reported problems were related to sexual satisfaction and attractiveness, body image, and loss of femininity. Last, women reported changes in the relationship with their partners. CONCLUSION RRM has a major impact on body image that affects sexual functioning and quality of life. These implications must be considered during treatment selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Scotto
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Facoltà di Psicologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Marzorati
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - Ketti Mazzocco
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Grabriella Pravettoni
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Zaluzec EK, Sempere LF. Systemic and Local Strategies for Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:248. [PMID: 38254741 PMCID: PMC10814018 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in the US. For women with moderate (15-20%) to average (12.5%) risk of breast cancer, there are few options available for risk reduction. For high-risk (>20%) women, such as BRCA mutation carriers, primary prevention strategies are limited to evidence-based surgical removal of breasts and/or ovaries and anti-estrogen treatment. Despite their effectiveness in risk reduction, not many high-risk individuals opt for surgical or hormonal interventions due to severe side effects and potentially life-changing outcomes as key deterrents. Thus, better communication about the benefits of existing strategies and the development of new strategies with minimal side effects are needed to offer women adequate risk-reducing interventions. We extensively review and discuss innovative investigational strategies for primary prevention. Most of these investigational strategies are at the pre-clinical stage, but some are already being evaluated in clinical trials and others are expected to lead to first-in-human clinical trials within 5 years. Likely, these strategies would be initially tested in high-risk individuals but may be applicable to lower-risk women, if shown to decrease risk at a similar rate to existing strategies, but with minimal side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K. Zaluzec
- Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lorenzo F. Sempere
- Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Radiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Ge S, Wang B, Wang Z, He J, Ma X. Common Multiple Primary Cancers Associated With Breast and Gynecologic Cancers and Their Risk Factors, Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prognosis: A Review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840431. [PMID: 35756608 PMCID: PMC9213651 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland is closely related to the female reproductive system in many aspects, affecting the whole gynecological system. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women and associated with considerable negative effects. Due to various factors including co-pathogenic genetic mutations, environment factors, lifestyle, behavioral factors, treatment regimens and in-creased survival of patients with BC, there is an increased probability of developing additional primary gynecologic cancers such as ovarian cancer (OC), endometrial cancer (EC), and cervical cancer (CC). More and more studies have been conducted in recent years. Multiple primary cancers (MPCs), also known as multiple primary malignancies, refers to two or more different primary cancers in the same patient occurring in the same or different organs or tissues. The pathogenesis of multiple primary cancers is complex and has a negative effect on the prognosis and survival of patients. This review discusses the common types of BC-associated MPCs, namely, BC associated with OC, BC associated with EC and BC associated with CC, as well as risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of MPCs associated with breast and gynecologic cancers. It provides new intervention and treatment ideas for patients with BC-associated MPCs to improve quality of life and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuwen Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Junjian He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoxin Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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Ta HDK, Wang WJ, Phan NN, An Ton NT, Anuraga G, Ku SC, Wu YF, Wang CY, Lee KH. Potential Therapeutic and Prognostic Values of LSM Family Genes in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4902. [PMID: 34638387 PMCID: PMC8508234 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, breast cancer (BRCA) has become one of the most common diseases worldwide. Understanding crucial genes and their signaling pathways remain an enormous challenge in evaluating the prognosis and possible therapeutics. The "Like-Smith" (LSM) family is known as protein-coding genes, and its member play pivotal roles in the progression of several malignancies, although their roles in BRCA are less clear. To discover biological processes associated with LSM family genes in BRCA development, high-throughput techniques were applied to clarify expression levels of LSMs in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BRCA dataset, which was integrated with the cBioPortal database. Furthermore, we investigated prognostic values of LSM family genes in BCRA patients using the Kaplan-Meier database. Among genes of this family, LSM4 expression levels were highly associated with poor prognostic outcomes with a hazard ratio of 1.35 (95% confidence interval 1.21-1.51, p for trend = 3.4 × 10-7). MetaCore and GlueGo analyses were also conducted to examine transcript expression signatures of LSM family members and their coexpressed genes, together with their associated signaling pathways, such as "Cell cycle role of APC in cell cycle regulation" and "Immune response IL-15 signaling via MAPK and PI3K cascade" in BRCA. Results showed that LSM family members, specifically LSM4, were significantly correlated with oncogenesis in BRCA patients. In summary, our results suggested that LSM4 could be a prospective prognosticator of BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Dang Khoa Ta
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; (H.D.K.T.); (G.A.)
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
| | - Wei-Jan Wang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan;
| | - Nam Nhut Phan
- Institute for Environmental Science, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
| | - Nu Thuy An Ton
- NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
| | - Gangga Anuraga
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; (H.D.K.T.); (G.A.)
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas PGRI Adi Buana, Surabaya 60234, Indonesia
| | - Su-Chi Ku
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
| | - Yung-Fu Wu
- National Defense Medical Center, Department of Medical Research, School of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Yang Wang
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; (H.D.K.T.); (G.A.)
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
| | - Kuen-Haur Lee
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; (H.D.K.T.); (G.A.)
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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Jeffers L, Reid J, Fitzsimons D, Morrison PJ, Dempster M. Interventions to improve psychosocial well-being in female BRCA-mutation carriers following risk-reducing surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; 10:CD012894. [PMID: 31595976 PMCID: PMC6784162 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012894.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women who carry a pathogenic mutation in either a BRCA1 DNA repair associated or BRCA2 DNA repair associated (BRCA1 or BRCA2) gene have a high lifetime risk of developing breast and tubo-ovarian cancer. To manage this risk women may choose to undergo risk-reducing surgery to remove breast tissue, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Surgery should increase survival, but can impact women's lives adversely at the psychological and psychosexual levels. Interventions to facilitate psychological adjustment and improve quality of life post risk-reducing surgery are needed. OBJECTIVES To examine psychosocial interventions in female BRCA carriers who have undergone risk-reducing surgery and to evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions on psychological adjustment and quality of life. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Embase via Ovid, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science up to April 2019 and Scopus up to January 2018. We also handsearched abstracts of scientific meetings and other relevant publications. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCT), non-randomised studies (NRS), prospective and retrospective cohort studies and interventional studies using baseline and postintervention analyses in female BRCA carriers who have undergone risk-reducing surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed eligibility studies for inclusion in the review. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS We screened 4956 records from the searches, selecting 34 unique studies for full-text scrutiny, of which two met the inclusion criteria: one RCT and one NRS. The included studies assessed 113 female BRCA carriers who had risk-reducing surgery, but there was attrition, and outcome data were not available for all participants at final study assessments. We assessed the RCT as at a high risk of bias whilst the NRS did not have a control group. Our GRADE assessment of the studies was very low-certainty due to the paucity of data and methodological shortcomings of the studies. The primary outcome of quality of life was only measured in the RCT and that was specific to the menopause. Both studies reported on psychological distress and sexual function. Neither study measured body image, perhaps because this is most often associated with risk-reducing mastectomy rather than oophorectomy.The RCT (66 participants recruited with 48 followed to 12 months) assessed the short- and long-term effects of an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training programme on quality of life, sexual functioning, and sexual distress in female BRCA carriers (n = 34) in a specialised family cancer clinic in the Netherlands compared to female BRCA carriers (n = 32) who received usual care. Measurements on the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) showed some improvement at 3 and 12 months compared to the usual care group. At 3 months the mean MENQOL scores were 3.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0 to 3.9) and 3.8 (95% CI 3.3 to 4.2) for the MBSR and usual care groups respectively, whilst at 12 months the corresponding values were 3.6 (95% CI 3.1 to 4.0) and 3.9 (95% CI 3.5 to 4.4) (1 study; 48 participants followed up at 12 months). However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the very low-certainty of the evidence, where a lower score is better. Other outcome measures on the Female Sexual Function Index and the Female Sexual Distress Scale showed no significant differences between the two groups. Our GRADE assessment of the evidence was very low-certainty due to the lack of blinding of participants and personnel, attrition bias and self-selection (as only one-third of eligible women chose to participate in the study) and serious imprecision due to the small sample size and wide 95% CI.The NRS comprised 37 female BRCA carriers selected from three Boston-area hospitals who had undergone a novel sexual health intervention following risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) without a history of tubo-ovarian cancer. The intervention consisted of targeted sexual-health education, body awareness and relaxation training, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy strategies, followed by two sessions of tailored telephone counselling. This was a single-arm study without a control group. Our GRADE assessment of the evidence was very low-certainty, and as there was no comparison group in the included study, we could not estimate a relative effect. The study reported change in psychosexual adjustment from baseline to postintervention (median 2.3 months) using measures of Female Sexual Function Index (n = 34), which yielded change with a mean of 3.91, standard deviation (SD) 9.12, P = 0.018 (1 study, 34 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The Brief Symptom Inventory, Global Severity Index yielded a mean change of 3.92, SD 5.94, P < 0.001. The Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale yielded change with a mean of 12.14, SD 20.56, P < 0.001. The Sexual Knowledge Scale reported mean change of 1.08, SD 1.50, P < 0.001 (n = 36). Participant satisfaction was measured by questionnaire, and 100% participants reported that they enjoyed taking part in the psychoeducation group and felt "certain" or "very certain" that they had learned new skills to help them cope with the sexual side effects of RRSO. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The effect of psychosocial interventions on quality of life and emotional well-being in female BRCA carriers who undergo risk-reducing surgery is uncertain given the very low methodological quality in the two studies included in the review. The absence of such interventions highlights the need for partnership between researchers and clinicians in this specific area to take forward the patient-reported outcomes and develop interventions to address the psychosocial issues related to risk-reducing surgery in female BRCA carriers, particularly in this new era of genomics, where testing may become more mainstream and many more women are identified as gene carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Jeffers
- Regional Medical Genetics CentreMedical GeneticsBelfast Health and Social Care TrustLisburn RoadBelfastUKBT9 7AB
| | - Joanne Reid
- Queen's University BelfastSchool of Nursing and Midwifery10 Malone RoadBelfastUKBT9 5BN
| | - Donna Fitzsimons
- Queen's University BelfastSchool of Nursing and Midwifery10 Malone RoadBelfastUKBT9 5BN
| | - Patrick J Morrison
- Regional Medical Genetics CentreMedical GeneticsBelfast Health and Social Care TrustLisburn RoadBelfastUKBT9 7AB
- Queen's University BelfastCentre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology97 Lisburn RoadBelfastUKBT9 7AE
| | - Martin Dempster
- Queen's University BelfastSchool of PsychologyUniversity RoadBelfastNorthern IrelandUKBT7 1NN
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