Dr. Lambertini on Preserving Ovarian Function and Fertility During Chemotherapy Treatment

Matteo Lambertini, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Oncologia Medica A, Hospital San Martino, Genova, Italy, discusses the use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHa) during chemotherapy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in patients with breast cancer.

Lambertini and his team performed a meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials which included 1231 patients with breast cancer. They found a statistically significant reduction in the risk of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) with the use of LHRHa, with 33% of patients experiencing POF in the control arm versus 18% in the LHRha arm.

More patients who received LHRHa also achieved pregnancy after treatment, said Lambertini. The analysis found that 33 women were able to achieve pregnancy after treatment in the LHRHa arm compared to 19 women in the control arm who only received chemotherapy.