Pregnancy after breast cancer: Are young patients willing to participate in clinical studies?

Olivia Pagani*, Monica Ruggeri, Silvia Manunta, Christobel Saunders, Fedro Peccatori, Fatima Cardoso, Bella Kaufman, Shani Paluch-Shimon, Hanan Gewefel, Elisa Gallerani, OMalkahi Abulkhair, Barbara Pistilli, Ellen Warner, Emmanouil Saloustros, Lucien Perey, Khalil Zaman, Manuela Rabaglio, Shari Gelber, Richard D. Gelber, Aron GoldhirschLarissa Korde, Hatem A. Azim, Ann H. Partridge

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Young patients with breast cancer (BC) are often concerned about treatment-induced infertility and express maternity desire. Conception after BC does not seem to affect outcome, but information in estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) disease is not definitive. From September 2012-March 2013, 212 evaluable patients with ER+ early BC, <37years at diagnosis, from 5 regions (Europe/US/Canada/Middle-East/Australia) answered a survey about fertility concerns, maternity desire and interest in a study of endocrine therapy (ET) interruption to allow pregnancy. Overall, 37% of respondents were interested in the study; younger patients (≤30 years) reported higher interest (57%). Motivation in younger patients treated >30 months was higher (83%) than in older women (14%), interest was independent of age in patients treated for ≤30 months. A prospective study in this patient population seems relevant and feasible. The International-Breast-Cancer-Study-Group (IBCSG), within the Breast-International-Group (BIG) - North-American-Breast-Cancer-Groups (NABCG) collaboration, is launching a study (POSITIVE) addressing ET interruption to allow pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)201-207
Number of pages7
JournalBreast
Volume24
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2015
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
European Institute of Oncology
Italy Fedro Peccatori/Aron Goldhirsch Multimedica
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Instituto Español de Oceanografía

    Keywords

    • Breast cancer
    • Endocrine treatment
    • Estrogen receptor
    • Pregnancy
    • Young patients

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