A meta-analysis was conducted to include 12 randomised trials and a total of 1,231 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, with or without luteinising hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa). Initial results showed the rates of premature ovarian failure (POF) were reduced by 64% in patients who received LHRHa. However, the studies used different definitions of POF, and results ranged widely. The analysis was then restricted to trials that included specific data on whether a woman’s periods had re-started one year after chemotherapy. In the eight relevant trials, the rates of POF were reduced by 45% with LHRHa and there was close agreement in results from all studies.
Presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECC) 2015 by Matteo Lambertini, MD, of the IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.
