Antimullerian hormone and inhibin B are hormone measures of ovarian function in late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors

• Published in: Cancer 2010-02, Vol.116 (3), p.592-599
• Main Authors: Su, H. Irene, Sammel, Mary D., Green, Jamie, Velders, Luke, Stankiewicz, Corrie, Matro, Jennifer, Freeman, Ellen W., Gracia, Clarisa R., DeMichele, Angela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; amenorrhea; Amenorrhea - chemically induced; Anti-Mullerian Hormone - blood; antimullerian hormone; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; chemotherapy; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; follicle‐stimulating hormone; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; inhibin B; Inhibins - blood; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; ovarian failure; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency - chemically induced; Survivors; Tamoxifen - pharmacology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24746

BACKGROUND: In late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors, there is a need for real‐time biomarkers of postchemotherapy ovarian function. The objective was to determine whether antimullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B are such biomarkers. The authors tested whether AMH and inhibin B were impacted by breast cancer treatment by comparing cancer survivors to age‐matched control women and determined the association between these hormones and postchemotherapy menstrual pattern. METHODS: Breast cancer patients (n = 127) with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I to III disease who were premenopausal at diagnosis were enrolled postchemotherapy and observed. The primary endpoint was chemotherapy‐related amenorrhea (CRA) (≥12 months of amenorrhea after chemotherapy). Matched pair analyses compared AMH, inhibin B, and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) levels between cancer and age‐matched control subjects. Associations between hormones, CRA status, and change in CRA status over time were assessed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients at chemotherapy was 43.2 years (range, 26.7‐57.8 years). At enrollment, median follow‐up since chemotherapy was 2.1 years, and 55% of subjects had CRA. Compared with age‐matched controls, cancer subjects had significantly lower AMH (P = .004) and inhibin B (P < .001) and higher FSH (P < .001). AMH (P = .002) and inhibin B (P = .001) were found to be significantly associated with risk of CRA, even after controlling for FSH. AMH was significantly lower (P = .03) and FSH was significantly higher (P = .04) in menstruating subjects who developed subsequent CRA. CONCLUSIONS: AMH and inhibin B are 2 additional measures of postchemotherapy ovarian function in late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors. With further research and validation, these hormones may supplement limited current tools for assessing and predicting postchemotherapy ovarian function. Cancer 2010. © 2009 American Cancer Society. Antimullerian hormone and inhibin B are 2 additional measures of postchemotherapy ovarian function in late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors. These hormones may supplement limited current tools for assessing and predicting postchemotherapy ovarian function.