Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists cotreatment during chemotherapy in borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer patients

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2013-02, Vol.126 (4), p.688-691
• Main Authors: Zhu, Hong-lan, Wang, Yan, Li, Xiao-ping, Wang, Chao-hua, Wang, Yue, Cui, Heng, Wang, Jian-liu, Wei, Li-hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - agonists; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - therapeutic use; Humans; Infertility, Female; Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Young Adult; 促性腺激素释放激素类似物; 化疗药物; 卵巢癌; 患者; 手术治疗; 激动剂; 生育功能; 肿瘤
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.20122738

Background Recently, conservative surgery is acceptable in young patients with borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer. The preservation of these patients＇ future fertility has been the focus of recent interest. This study aimed to observe the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists （GnRHa） cotreatment during chemotherapy in borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer patients. Methods Sixteen patients who were treated with fertility preservation surgery for borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer and then administered GnRHa during chemotherapy in Peking University People＇s Hospital from January 2006 to July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. This group was compared with a control group of 16 women who were treated concurrently with similar chemotherapy （n=5） without GnRHa or were historical controls （n=11）. The disease recurrence, the menstruation status and reproductive outcome were followed up and compared between the two groups. Results There were no significant differences between both groups regarding age, body weight, height, marriage status, classification of the tumors, stage of the disease, as were the cumulative doses of each chemotherapeutic agent. One （1/16） patient in the study group while 2 （2/16） patients in the control group relapsed 2 years after conclusion of the primary treatment （P 〉0.05）. All of the 16 women in the study group compared with 11 of the 16 patients in the control group resumed normal menses 6 months after the termination of the treatment （P 〈0.05）. There were 4 spontaneous pregnancies in the study group while 2 in the control group, all of the neonates were healthy. Conclusions GnRHa administration before and during chemotherapy in borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer patients who had undergone fertility preservation operation may bring up higher rates of spontaneous resumption of menses and a better pregnancy rate. Long-term follow up and large scale clinical studies are required.