Laparoscopic Ovarian Transposition Before Pelvic Cancer Treatment: Ovarian Function and Fertility Preservation

The Young: Early-Onset Colon Cancer

Early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), characterized by diagnosis before the age of 50 years, has emerged as a significant healthcare challenge with increasing global incidence. While traditional risk factors such as family history and inherited syndromes contribute to EO-CRC, a substantial proportion of cases remain sporadic, necessitating further investigation into additional etiological factors. Molecular studies reveal heterogeneity in EO-CRC, with distinct mutational profiles compared to late-onset CRC. Clinical management presents unique considerations, including challenges in early detection and treatment strategies tailored to younger patients. Addressing EO-CRC requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating epidemiological, molecular, and clinical insights to improve prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutic outcomes. Emerging research avenues explore novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering promise for advancing understanding and management of this disease in contemporary oncology practice.

Surgical Innovations to Protect Fertility from Oncologic Pelvic Radiation Therapy: Ovarian Transposition and Uterine Fixation

As oncologic therapy continues to advance, survivorship care has widened the realm of possibilities for quality-of-life improvements, including fertility preservation and restoration. We aim to summarize the current and future directions of fertility preservation techniques for patients facing gonadotoxic medical therapies who desire pregnancy after their condition is treated. This review of both ovarian and uterine transposition highlights the present roles, techniques, and fertility outcomes of the two fertility preservation treatment modalities designed to protect reproductive organs from harmful pelvic radiation. Current evidence shows that ovarian transposition preserves ovarian function for patients with localized pelvic radiation demonstrating the most successful return of fertility. Uterine transposition holds great promise for patients desiring to conceive and carry a full-term pregnancy after radiation therapy. With ongoing advancements in oncologic treatments leading to increased survival rates, fertility is increasingly becoming a key survivorship issue. Patients can anticipate counseling about these fertility preservation surgical techniques that protect both the ovaries as well as the uterus from harmful pelvic radiation.

Oncofertility and Fertility Preservation for Women with Gynecological Malignancies: Where Do We Stand Today?

Oncofertility is a growing medical and research field that includes two main areas: oncology and reproductive medicine. Nowadays, the percentage of patients surviving cancer has exponentially increased, leading to the need for intervention for fertility preservation in both men and women. Specifically, gynecological malignancies in women pose an additional layer of complexity due to the reproductive organs being affected. In the present review, we report fertility preservation options with a cancer- and stage-specific focus. We explore the drawbacks and the necessity for planning fertility preservation applications during emergency statuses (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic) and comment on the importance of repro-counseling for multifaceted patients during their oncological and reproductive journey.

Fertility preservation in hematological cancer patients

Among adolescents and young adults, hematological malignancies are the most common malignancies. Although the survival rate of hematological malignancies in young patients has been dramatically improved, due to the continuous improvement and development of tumor diagnosis and treatment options, cytotoxic therapies can significantly reduce a patient's reproductive capacity and cause irreversible infertility. The most two established solutions are embryo cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation which can be considered in single female. Sperm or testicular tissue cryopreservation in adult male are feasible approaches that must be considered before gonadotoxic therapy. A comprehensive consultation with reproductive specialists when once diagnosed is a significantly issue which would help those survivors who want to have children. In this article, we review germ cell toxicity, which happens during the treatment of hematological malignancies, and aims to propose safety, efficacy fertility preservation methods in younger patients with hematological malignancies.

Techniques and endocrine-reproductive outcomes of ovarian transposition prior to pelvic radiotherapy in both gynecologic and non-gynecologic cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Premature ovarian failure may be a consequence of radiotherapy administered for the treatment of various female oncologic diseases. Before radiotherapy, fertility may be preserved through ovarian transposition (OT), which consists of moving the ovaries away from the radiation field.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain all types of surgical techniques employed for OT, outline the endocrine and reproductive outcomes of each one, and discover if one works better than the others.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The authors performed a systematic search of the English literature looking for all studies related to OT before radiotherapy published up to June 2023. Nine studies were included.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The eligible studies were assessed based on the presence of a description of the surgical technique employed for OT before pelvic radiotherapy and a report of the endocrine and reproductive outcomes.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were used to compare endocrine and reproductive outcomes The χ2 test was employed for the statistical analysis and a P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 323 female patients aged between 7 and 51 years-198 (61.3%) with non-gynecologic cancer and 125 (38.7%) with gynecologic cancer-underwent OT, either bilateral (221, 68.4%) or unilateral (102, 31.6%), before radiotherapy. Essentially, two types of OT were employed: lateral and medial. A total of 71 (22%) patients underwent medial OT and 252 (78%) patients (127 with non-gynecologic tumors and 125 with gynecologic tumors) had a lateral OT. The latter was used in a similar percentage of cases for gynecologic (50.4%) and non-gynecologic (49.6%) tumors, whereas the medial approach was performed only for non-gynecologic cancers (Hodgkin's lymphoma). The difference between medial OT and lateral OT was not significant regarding the preservation of endocrine function (OR 0.65, P = 0.120). However, midline OT worked better in terms of reproductive outcomes. In fact, the percentage of patients with pregnancy (49.2%) and live births (45%) associated with medial OT was significantly higher than that associated with lateral OT, 6.5% and 13.4%, respectively, and the difference between such data was statistically significant (OR 7.04, P = 0.001 and OR 5.29, P = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Ovarian transposition is an important method to preserve fertility before radiotherapy, considering the worldwide ongoing use of this treatment for various cancers arising in young women. The surgical method depends on the type of disease, but OT-especially medial OT when feasible-is effective in terms of ovarian function preservation and reproductive outcomes.

Determination of ovarian transposition through prediction of postoperative adjuvant therapy in young patients with early stage cervical cancer undergoing surgery: a Korean multicenter retrospective study (KGOG 1042)

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to predict the risk of postoperative adjuvant therapy using preoperative variables in young patients with early stage cervical cancer. The predicted risk can guide whether ovarian transposition should be performed during surgery.

METHODS

In total, 886 patients with stage IB1-IIA cervical cancer aged 20-45 years who underwent modified radical or radical hysterectomy between January 2000 and December 2008 were included. Preoperative variables, preoperative laboratory findings, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stage, tumor size, and pathological variables were collected. Patients with high risk factors or those who met the Sedlis criteria were considered adjuvant therapy risk (+); others were considered adjuvant therapy risk (-). A decision-tree model using preoperative variables was constructed to predict the risk of adjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

Of 886 patients, 362 were adjuvant therapy risk (+) (40.9%). The decision-tree model with four distinct adjuvant therapy risks using tumor size and age were generated. Specifically, patients with tumor size ≤2.45 cm had low risk (49/367; 13.4%), those with tumor size ≤3.85 cm and >2.45 cm had moderate risk (136/314; 43.3%), those with tumor size >3.85 cm and age ≤39.5 years had high risk (92/109; 84.4%), and those with tumor size >3.85 cm and age >39.5 years had the highest risk (85/96; 88.5%).

CONCLUSION

The risk of postoperative adjuvant therapy in young patients with early stage cervical cancer can be predicted using preoperative variables. We can decide whether ovarian transposition should be performed using the predicted risk.

An update on oncofertility in prepubertal females

Cancer is a life-threatening event for pediatric patients. Treatment advancements in pediatric cancer have improved prognosis, but some of these treatments have gonadotoxic potential and may affect fertility in different ways. Due to the growing interest of the research community in the life prospects of young cancer survivors, there has been a demand to intersect reproductive medicine and oncology, which is referred to as "oncofertility". There are various fertility preservation options according to gender and pubertal status, and shared decisions must take place at the time of diagnosis. This study aims to provide a critical review of current and emerging strategies for preserving and restoring fertility in prepubertal females, ranging from established methods to experimental approaches that can be offered before, during, and after anticancer therapies. Additionally, the author aims to review how clinicians' awareness of oncofertility options and the latest advancements in this field, timely referral, and proper consultations with patients and their families are vital in addressing their concerns, providing emotional support, and guiding them through the decision-making process, as well as potential barriers that may hinder the fertility preservation process.

Fertility Preservation in Cervical Cancer-Treatment Strategies and Indications

Cervical cancer is frequently diagnosed in women during their reproductive years, and fertility preservation is an essential part of their cancer treatment. In highly selected patients with early stage, low-risk cervical cancer and a tumor size ≤ 2 cm, several treatment strategies can be offered for patients wishing to preserve fertility, including radical/simple trachelectomy or conization with pelvic lymph node assessment. Trachelectomy can be performed through a vaginal, abdominal, or minimally invasive approach and has been shown to have an equivalent oncologic outcome compared to radical hysterectomy. All surgical approaches for radical trachelectomy seem to have excellent survival with comparable oncologic outcomes. Nevertheless, patients undergoing vaginal trachelectomy have better obstetric outcomes compared to the other routes. In patients with larger tumors (2-4 cm), neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by fertility-sparing surgery is an alternative option. Several chemotherapy regimens have been used for this indication, with a pathologic complete response rate of 17-73%. For locally advanced diseases that require radical hysterectomy or primary chemoradiation, fertility preservation can be performed using oocyte, embryo, or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, as well as ovarian transposition. For these patients, future pregnancy is possible through surrogacy. In addition to fertility preservation, ovarian transposition, where the ovaries are repositioned outside of the radiation field, is performed to maintain ovarian hormonal function and prevent premature ovarian failure. In summary, fertility-preservation treatment strategies for patients with early stage cervical cancer are continuously evolving, and less radical surgeries are becoming more acceptable. Additional and ongoing evidence is helping determine the impact of conservative procedures on oncologic and obstetric outcomes in these patients.

Reproductive and Family Building Considerations for Female Patients with Anorectal And Urogenital Malformations

BACKGROUND

Little is known about fertility and pregnancy outcomes in patients with anorectal malformations (ARM), particularly those with long common channel cloaca and cloacal exstrophy who may have impaired fertility. The purpose of this study is to describe pregnancy and offspring data from a cohort of patients with ARM.

METHODS

A retrospective review of female patients with ARM from our database, which includes patients operated on since 1980, was performed as well as a review of the literature. Demographic, operative, and self-reported fertility, obstetric, and offspring data were collected.

RESULTS

There were 37 females identified in our database who reported any pregnancy or having children. There were 59 pregnancies, 48 (81.3%) of which resulted in live birth. The most common mode of delivery was cesarean delivery. There were five patients with long channel cloaca (>3 cm) and one with cloacal exstrophy that reported 11 total pregnancies, eight of which resulted in live birth. Four cloaca patients in which the native vagina was pulled through were able to conceive spontaneously. Three patients with cloacal anomalies required in vitro fertilization to conceive; one was unsuccessful. No patients who underwent bowel partial vaginal replacement became pregnant. Women with ARM face many unique challenges in assisted reproduction, pregnancy, and delivery owing to their anatomy and associated anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with recto-perineal, recto-vestibular, and cloacas in which the native vagina was pulled through are capable of spontaneous pregnancy. Assisted reproduction, however, may be needed those with more complex anomalies and surgical repairs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Successful Pre-Treatment Ovarian Fresh Tissue Transplantation in a Cervical Cancer Patient Undergoing Radiation Therapy: A Case Report

Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent gynecological malignancies in Brazil, and most of the patients require pelvic radiotherapy as part of oncological treatment. Pelvic radiotherapy induces ovarian premature insufficiency in pre-menopausal women. This condition impacts the life quality and increases the risk of osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases in the middle and long term. Most of these patients have no access to hormonal replacement therapy. Techniques such as ovarian transposition have questionable results when aiming to preserve ovarian function. In this context, a promising alternative is the implantation of fresh ovarian tissue, outside the radiotherapy field, in the abdominal cavity (orthotopic implantation) or in other sites such as the forearm, breast, or subcutaneous tissue (heterotopic implantation). Here we report a successful case of autologous implantation of fresh ovarian tissue in the inner thigh of a young patient with advanced cervical cancer, who was a candidate for concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Local treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract: Expert consensus from the Children's Oncology Group, the European Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Group, and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe

The International Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Consortium (INSTRuCT) was founded as an international collaboration between different pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma cooperative groups (Children's Oncology Group, European Pediatric Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Group, and Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe). Besides other tasks, a major goal of INSTRuCT is to develop consensus expert opinions for best clinical treatment. This consensus paper for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract (FGU-RMS) provides treatment recommendations for local treatment, long-term follow-up, and fertility preservation. Therefore, a review of the current literature was combined with recommendations of the treatment protocols of the appropriate clinical trials. Additionally, opinions of international FGU-RMS experts were incorporated into recommendations. Results were that the prognosis of FGU-RMS is favorable with an excellent response to chemotherapy. Initial complete surgical resection is not indicated, but diagnosis should be established properly. In patients with tumors localized at the vagina or cervix demonstrating incomplete response after induction chemotherapy, local radiotherapy (brachytherapy) should be carried out. In patients with persistent tumors at the corpus uteri, hysterectomy should be performed. Fertility preservation should be considered in all patients. In conclusion, for the first time, an international consensus for the treatment of FGU-RMS patients could be achieved, which will help to harmonize the treatment of these patients in different study groups.

Reproductive and Obstetric Outcomes after Fertility-Sparing Treatments for Cervical Cancer: Current Approach and Future Directions

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in women of reproductive age. The established fertility-sparing approaches for the management of early-stage cervical cancer for women who plan pregnancy are associated with a decline in fecundity and an increased risk of pregnancy complications. This article aims to offer an overview of fertility-sparing approaches and the management of potential subfertility and pregnancy complications after these treatments. An extensive search for the available data about infertility and cervical cancer, fertility-sparing techniques in patients with cervical cancer, fertility treatment, obstetrical complications, and pregnancy outcomes in cervical cancer patients was completed. Fertility-preserving procedures such as loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), cold-knife conization, and trachelectomy in women diagnosed with cervical cancer can be considered as safe and effective treatments that preserve reproductive potential. Current fertility-preserving procedures, based on the balance of the oncological characteristics of patients as well as their desire for reproduction, allow one to obtain acceptable reproductive and obstetric outcomes in women treated for cervical cancer. Nevertheless, careful monitoring of pregnancies obtained after fertility-preserving procedures is recommended, since this cohort of patients should be considered at higher risk compared with a healthy population.

Surgical Management for Transposed Ovarian Recurrence of Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review with Our Experience

In early-stage cervical cancer, ovarian metastasis is relatively rare, and ovarian transposition is often performed during surgery. Although rare, the diagnosis and surgical approach for recurrence at transposed ovaries are challenging. This study focused on the diagnosis and surgical management of transposed ovarian recurrence in cervical cancer patients. A 45-year-old premenopausal woman underwent radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy following postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IB1 cervical cancer. During the initial surgery, the ovary was transposed to the paracolic gutter, and no postoperative complications were observed. Ovarian recurrence was diagnosed using positron emission tomography-computed tomography, and a laparoscopic bilateral oophorectomy was performed. A systematic review identified nine women with transposed ovarian recurrence with no other metastases of cervical cancer, and no studies have discussed the optimal surveillance of transposed ovaries. Of those (n = 9), four women had died of the disease within 2 years of the second surgery, and the prognosis of transposed ovarian cervical cancer seemed poor. Nevertheless, three women underwent laparoscopic oophorectomies, none of whom experienced recurrence after the second surgery. Few studies have examined the surgical management of transposed ovarian recurrence. The optimal surgical approach for transposed ovarian recurrence of cervical cancer requires further investigation.

What should be done in terms of fertility preservation for patients with cancer? The French 2021 guidelines

AIM

To provide practice guidelines about fertility preservation (FP) in oncology.

METHODS

We selected 400 articles after a PubMed review of the literature (1987-2019).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Any child, adolescent and adult of reproductive age should be informed about the risk of treatment gonadotoxicity. In women, systematically proposed FP counselling between 15 and 38 years of age in case of treatment including bifunctional alkylating agents, above 6 g/m2 cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED), and for radiation doses on the ovaries ≥3 Gy. For postmenarchal patients, oocyte cryopreservation after ovarian stimulation is the first-line FP technique. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be discussed as a first-line approach in case of treatment with a high gonadotoxic risk, when chemotherapy has already started and in urgent cases. Ovarian transposition is to be discussed prior to pelvic radiotherapy involving a high risk of premature ovarian failure. For prepubertal girls, ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be proposed in the case of treatment with a high gonadotoxic risk. In pubertal males, sperm cryopreservation must be systematically offered to any male who is to undergo cancer treatment, regardless of toxicity. Testicular tissue cryopreservation must be proposed in males unable to cryopreserve sperm who are to undergo a treatment with intermediate or severe risk of gonadotoxicity. In prepubertal boys, testicular tissue preservation is: - recommended for chemotherapy with a CED ≥7500 mg/m2 or radiotherapy ≥3 Gy on both testicles. - proposed for chemotherapy with a CED ≥5.000 mg/m2 or radiotherapy ≥2 Gy. If several possible strategies, the ultimate choice is made by the patient.

Response Evaluation Following Radiation Therapy With 18F-FDG PET/CT: Common Variants of Radiation-Induced Changes and Potential Pitfalls

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the cornerstones in cancer treatment and approximately half of all patients will receive some form of RT during the course of their cancer management. Response evaluation after RT and follow-up imaging with ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can be complicated by RT-induced acute, chronic or consequential effects. There is a general consensus that ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for response evaluation should be delayed for 12 weeks after completing RT to minimize the risk of false-positive findings. Radiation-induced late side effects in normal tissue can take years to develop and eventually cause symptoms that on imaging can potentially mimic recurrent disease. Imaging findings in radiation induced injuries depend on the normal tissue included in the irradiated volume and the radiation therapy regime including the total dose delivered, dose per fraction and treatment schedule. The intent for radiation therapy should be taken in consideration when evaluating the response on imaging, that is palliative vs curative or neoadjuvant vs adjuvant RT. Imaging findings can further be distorted by altered anatomy and sequelae following surgery within the radiation field. An awareness of common PET/CT-induced changes/injuries is essential when interpreting ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT as well as obtaining a complete medical history, as patients are occasionally scanned for an unrelated cause to previously RT treated malignancy. In addition, secondary malignancies due to carcinogenic effects of radiation exposure in long-term cancer survivors should not be overlooked. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can be very useful in response evaluation and follow-up in patients treated with RT, however, variants and pitfalls are common and it is important to remember that radiation-induced injury is often a diagnosis of exclusion.

Fertility preservation techniques in cervical carcinoma

The usefulness of this review is to highlight how a fertility preservation (FP) approach is currently feasible for patients diagnosed with uterine cervical cancer. To this regard, a fertility sparing surgery has just overcome its traditional limits, gained acceptance within the major gynecologic oncology societies thanks to the ability to identify the "ideal" candidates to this conservative treatment. On the other hand, the use of other FPs for oocyte and ovarian cortex cryopreservation is still extremely debated. In fact, the existing risk of tumor spreading during oocyte retrieval necessary for oocyte cryostorage for patients' candidates for neo-adjuvant therapy, as well as the potential hazard of cancer cell dissemination after ovarian tissue replacement in cases of non-squamous type cervical carcinomas should not be underestimated. Therefore, in consideration of the encountered limitations and the need to ensure adequate reproductive health for young uterine cervical cancer survivors, translational research regarding the FP has progressively collected innovative insights into the employment of stemness technology. In this context, the property of ovarian stem cells obtained from the ovarian cortex to generate functional oocytes in women could represent a promising therapeutic alternative to the current procedures for a novel and safer FP approach in cancer survivors.

The role of oophoropexy in patients with gynecological cancer who need radiation therapy

Pelvic radiotherapy is an essential component of cancer therapy for patients with cervical and other gynecological malignancies. The ovaries are particularly radiosensitive, and even low radiotherapy doses may result in impaired or complete loss of ovarian function, causing hormonal disturbances and infertility. Recent advances in both surgery and radiotherapy have facilitated the ability of some patients to maintain ovarian function through ovarian transposition and careful radiotherapy planning. Multidisciplinary discussions should be undertaken to consider which candidates are appropriate for transposition. Generally, patients under age 35 should be considered due to ovarian reserve, likelihood of oophoropexy success, and radioresistance of ovaries. Those patients with small squamous cell tumors, minimal extra-uterine extension, and no lymphovascular invasion or lymph node involvement are ideal candidates to minimize risk of ovarian metastasis. Patients should be assessed and counseled about the risks of ovarian metastasis and the likelihood of successful ovarian preservation before undergoing oophoropexy and starting treatment. Oophoropexy should be bilateral if possible, and ovaries should be placed superior and lateral to the radiotherapy field. Studies limiting the mean ovarian dose to less than 2-3 Gray have demonstrated excellent preservation of ovarian function. Intensity modulated radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy techniques have the potential to further minimize the dose to the ovary with excellent outcomes. The addition of brachytherapy to the treatment regimen will probably cause minimal risk to transposed ovaries. Oophoropexy before radiotherapy may preserve the hormonal function of ovaries for a duration, and fertility might be possible through surrogate pregnancy. Successful ovarian transposition has the potential to improve the overall health and wellbeing, reproductive options, and potentially quality of life in patients with cervical and other gynecological cancers.

Sonographic Imaging of Surgically Transpositioned Ovaries in the Treatment of Rectal Carcinoma

Pelvic radiation therapy in patients with advanced rectal carcinoma improves oncological outcomes, but often raises infertility concerns in reproductive-age patients. Laparoscopic ovarian transposition is a surgical method which may offer preservation of ovarian function during and after cancer treatment. Sonographic evaluation of the ovaries post transposition gives insight into their condition and the efficacy of ovarian transposition in the continuation of ovarian function after radiation. This case describes how sonography was used to identify and evaluate surgically transpositioned ovaries in a patient with rectal adenocarcinoma.

PET/CT Variants and Pitfalls in Gynecological Cancers

The role of hybrid imaging with 2-[18F] flourodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) is continuously evolving and now considered standard practice in evaluation of disease stage, treatment response, recurrent disease and follow-up for numerous primary malignancies. In gynecological malignancies FDG PET/CT plays an important role, not only in the assessment of disease in the pre-and post-therapy setting, but also in radiation therapy (RT) planning by defining the metabolically active gross tumor volume (GTV. The glucose analogue radiotracer, FDG, is by far the most utilized radiotracer in PET/CT and is typically seen with high uptake in malignant cells. The radiotracer FDG has a high sensitivity but low specificity for malignancy, as benign processes with an inflammatory response for example infection, are also FDG-avid. In the evaluation of the female pelvic region an awareness of potential confounding factors in the interpretation of FDG is essential as variations of FDG uptake occur in accordance with the menstrual cycle and the menopausal state. Incidental imaging findings in the female genital can pose differential diagnostic challenges as false-positive and false-negative findings in benign and malignant processes are not uncommon. Gynecological malignancies continue to pose major public health problems with cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer in women ranking after breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. Familiarity with frequently encountered benign and malignant variants and pitfalls in FDG PET/CT in the female pelvic region can aid the reader in differential diagnostic considerations.

Ovarian transposition and cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female malignancy worldwide. As the focus of treatment is shifting towards balancing oncological outcomes with reproductive benefit, women are becoming increasingly aware of their fertility options. Cervical cancer is one of the primary malignancies where transposition of the ovaries may be indicated. Ovarian transposition should be performed in pre-menopausal women, undergoing pelvic irradiation to preserve ovarian function and prevent early menopause. The review discusses the available literature and synthesises a concise summary for gynaecologic oncology surgeons to counsel affected women. The paradoxical controversy, leading to its under use is acknowledged, due to the scarcity of published data with regard to functional outcomes, and the lack of clinical trials. In cervical cancer, ovarian transposition remains a safe fertility preservation (FP) option, which is associated with high ovarian function preservation, an acceptable rate of ovarian cysts and a negligible risk for metastases in the transposed ovaries.

Fertility Considerations in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy

Survivors of pediatric cancer are at increased risk for infertility and premature hormonal failure. Surgeons caring for children with cancer have an important role to play in understanding this risk, as well as advocating for and performing appropriate fertility preservation procedures. Fertility preservation options in males and females vary by pubertal status and include nonexperimental (oocyte harvest, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, sperm cryopreservation) and experimental (testicular tissue cryopreservation) options. This review summarizes the basics of risk assessment and fertility preservation options and explores unique considerations in pediatric fertility preservation.

Premature ovarian insufficiency: a toolkit for the primary care physician

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) refers to the loss of ovarian activity before the age of 40 years, which leads to hypoestrogenism and amenorrhea. The diagnosis of POI in a young woman has potentially life-changing physical and emotional consequences for both the patient and her family. Therefore, it is very important that the diagnosis is correct and that it is made in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the diagnosis and therefore the effective treatment of POI are often delayed, which underlines the need for education of the broad medical community on the issue. A panel of menopause experts reviewed and critically appraised the literature, and present: (1) the diagnostic approach to POI, (2) the investigation of the etiology of this condition, (3) the therapeutic strategy regarding both hormone replacement therapy and fertility, and (4) the long-term follow-up and management for ensuring quality of life, as well as urogenital, cardiovascular, bone and mental health. The ultimate goal of this article is to provide a complete toolkit for the primary care physician to have easy access to all the information needed for the optimal management of women with POI, in the context of evidence-based and personalized medicine.HIGHLIGHTSPremature ovarian insufficiency occurs in 1% of the female population of reproductive age, yet the diagnosis is often delayed, with severe physical and emotional consequences for the patient.Primary care physicians should be aware of the possibility of premature ovarian insufficiency in young women presenting with menstrual irregularity.Prompt initiation of hormone replacement therapy ensures quality of life and prevents osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.Women seeking fertility should be referred to specialists to discuss assisted reproduction options.

Premature ovarian insufficiency: A toolkit for the primary care physician

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) refers to the loss of ovarian activity before the age of 40 years, which leads to hypoestrogenism and amenorrhoea. The diagnosis of POI in a young woman has potentially life-changing physical and emotional consequences for both the patient and her family. Therefore, it is very important that the diagnosis is correct and that it is made in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the diagnosis and therefore the effective treatment of POI are often delayed, which underlines the need for education of the broad medical community on the issue. A panel of menopause experts reviewed and critically appraised the literature, and present: 1) the diagnostic approach to POI, 2) the investigation of the etiology of this condition, 3) the therapeutic strategy regarding both hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and fertility and 4) the long-term follow-up and management for ensuring quality of life, as well as urogenital, cardiovascular, bone and mental health. The ultimate goal is to provide a complete toolkit for the primary care physician to have easy access to all the information needed for the optimal management of women with POI, in the context of evidence-based and personalized medicine.

Fertility preservation in women with cervical cancer

Fertility preservation in women with cervical cancer is a demanding but evolving issue. Some remarkable achievements have been reached, in particular the improvement of primary and secondary prevention and the broadening of the indications for conservative surgery up to FIGO 2018 stage IB2. Natural pregnancy rate and the rate of obstetrics complications following conservative approach is satisfactory even if not optimal. On the other hand, the use of classic strategies for fertility preservation such as oocytes or ovarian cortex freezing is extremely limited, being the uterus compromised by treatment in a high proportion of cases. In fact, the availability of uterine surrogacy can play a role in the counseling and the decision-making process. The recent advent of uterus transplantation is fascinating but, at present, cannot be viewed as a realistic solution.

Novel aspects on gonadotoxicity and fertility preservation in lymphoproliferative neoplasms

The topic of fertility preservation in patients with a lymphoproliferative disease offers new aspects of debate, due to the introduction of novel chemotherapeutic regimens and small molecules in the clinical landscape. Cancer related infertility is mostly dependent on gonadotoxic treatments and fertile female patients are today addressed to the oocyte cryopreservation or to ovarian cortex fragment cryopreservation. These methods present advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed in the present review, together with the options for male patients. The recent discovery of functional ovarian stem cells (OCSs) in woman ovarian cortex, opens new avenues offering a innovative procedure for fertility preservation through as model of regenerative medicine. Here, we review the gonadotoxic potential of "classical" chemotherapeutic treatments as well as of "novel" targeted therapies actually employed for lymphoproliferative neoplasms in young patients and revisit both the today available and future chances to preserve and restore fertility after the cancer healing.

Looking beyond the ovary for oncofertility care in women: uterine injury as a potential target for fertility-preserving treatments

Treatment for cancer has the potential to significantly diminish fertility and, further, to negatively impact the obstetrical outcomes of pregnancies that do occur. Cancer survivors have decreased rates of fertility and increased rates of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, after exposure to chemotherapy. To date, research on the impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on fertility and pregnancy outcomes has focused largely on the gonadotoxic effect of cancer treatments on ovaries, while the uterus and endometrium have not been extensively studied. It is intuitive, however, that decreased fertility and poorer obstetrical outcomes may be substantially mediated through injury to a highly mitotic tissue like the endometrium, which is also central to embryo implantation and utero-placental exchange. Pregnancy complications in cancer survivors might be due to compromised blood supply to the endometrium and myometrium affecting placentation or altered remodeling of the pregnant uterus secondary to radiation fibrosis. Alterations in endometrial receptivity at the molecular level could affect pregnancy implantation and early pregnancy loss, but later complications also can occur. This review focuses on understanding the unintended effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on uterine function in female cancer survivors and the impact on pregnancy, and summarizes mechanisms to protect and treat the uterus before and after cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Fertility Preservation in Women: Indications and Options for Therapy

Fertility preservation (FP) is a vital issue for individuals in either reproductive or prepubescent stage of life when future fertility may be compromised. The objective of any FP intervention is to minimize or eliminate primary disease burden and to ensure maintaining or preserving reproductive health. Fertility potential can be affected by cancer therapy and numerous other factors, including advancing age, metabolic conditions, autoimmune diseases, specific surgical interventions, and sex affirmation procedures. A paradigm shift focusing on quality-of-life issues and long-term survivorship has emerged, especially because of advances in cancer diagnostics and treatment. Several FP techniques have been widely distributed, while others are still in the research stage. In addition, specific procedures and some potentially fertoprotective agents are being developed, aiming to minimize the hazards of gonadal damage caused by cancer therapy and decrease the need for more costly, invasive, and time-consuming FP methods. This review highlights the advances, indications, and options for FP, both experimental and well-established, in females of various age groups. An electronic search in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases was conducted, including retrospective studies, prospective clinical trials, meta-analyses, original reviews, and online abstracts published up to June 30, 2019. The search terms used included fertility preservation, oncofertility, embryo cryopreservation, oocyte cryopreservation, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The meeting proceedings of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology were also hand searched.

Uterine Cells Improved Ovarian Function in a Murine Model of Ovarian Insufficiency

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as ovarian dysfunction in women younger than 40 years. It affects 1% of the women in this age-group and can occur iatrogenically after chemotherapy. Stem cells have been used in attempt to restore ovarian function in POI. In particular, endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) are easily obtainable in humans and have shown great potential for regenerative medicine. Here, we studied the potential for uterine cell (UC) suspensions containing eMSCs to improve ovarian function in a murine model of chemotherapy-induced POI. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled UC or phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) was delivered intravenously after chemotherapy. There was a significant increase in oocytes production and serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations after 6 weeks, as well as a 19% higher body mass in UC-treated mice. Similarly, we observed an increased number of pups in mice treated with UC than in mice treated with PBS. None of the oocytes or pups incorporated GFP, suggesting that there was no contribution of these stem cells to the oocyte pool. We conclude that treatment with UC indirectly improved ovarian function in mice with chemotherapy-induced POI. Furthermore, our study suggests that endometrial stem cell therapy may be beneficial to young women who undergo ovotoxic chemotherapy.

Preserving fertility in female patients with hematological malignancies: a multidisciplinary oncofertility approach

Oncofertility is a new interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that expands fertility options for young cancer patients. The most common forms of hematological malignancies that occur in girls and young women and therefore necessitate oncofertility care are acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Aggressive gonadotoxic anticancer regimens including alkylating chemotherapy and total body irradiation are used often in treating girls and young women with hematological malignancies. The risks of gonadotoxicity and subsequent iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency and fertility loss depend mainly on the type and stage of the disease, dose of anticancer therapy as well as the age of the patient at the beginning of treatment. To avoid or at least mitigate the devastating complications of anticancer therapy-induced gonadotoxicity, effective and comprehensive strategies that integrate different options for preserving and restoring fertility ranging from established to experimental strategies should be offered before, during, and after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A multidisciplinary approach that involves strong coordination and collaboration between hemato-oncologists, gynecologists, reproductive biologists, research scientists, and patient navigators is essential to guarantee high standard of care.

Fertility preservation in gynecologic cancers

An increasing number of women in modern societies are delaying childbearing beyond the age of 35, and gynecologic cancers affect a significant proportion of reproductive age women who wish to preserve fertility for a future chance of childbearing. As a result, providing treatment options for fertility preservation in women with gynecologic cancer has become a crucial component of cancer survivorship care. In this review article, we discussed the current knowledge on fertility-sparing surgical approaches, as well as assisted reproductive technologies that can be utilized to preserve reproductive potential in women with cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. A brief section on fertility preservation in pediatric gynecologic malignancies is also provided.

Preserving Endocrine Function in Premenopausal Women Undergoing Whole Pelvis Radiation for Cervical Cancer

Purpose

Whole pelvis radiation therapy (WPRT) in premenopausal women with cervical cancer can cause permanent ovarian damage, resulting in premature menopause. Oophoropexy, often considered as an initial step, demonstrates safety of sparing 1 ovary at the cost of delay in initiating WPRT. Therefore, we dosimetrically compared volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) techniques to allow for ovarian-sparing WPRT.

Materials and Methods

Ten patients previously treated for cervical cancer at our institution were included in this institutional review board-approved analysis. A modified clinical treatment volume (CTV) was designed, sparing 1 ovary (left or right), as determined by the physician (ovarian-sparing CTV) and disease extent, including physical exam, positron emission tomography/computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. An ovarian-sparing planning target volume was determined as the ovarian-sparing CTV+5 mm for patients who were supine and 7 mm for those who were prone. All plans were calculated to a dose of 45 Gy with specific optimization goals for target volumes, while attempting to maintain a mean ovary dose (D_mean) < 15 Gy. Dosimetric goals were compared across the 2 modalities using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

Both treatment modalities were able to achieve primary clinical goal coverage to the uterus/cervix (P = .529, comparing VMAT versus IMPT), ovarian-sparing CTV (P = .796) and ovarian-sparing planning target volume (P = .004). All 10 IMPT plans were able to accomplish the ovary objective (14.0 ± 1.66 Gy). However, only 4 of the 10 VMAT plans were able to achieve a D_mean < 15 Gy to the prioritized ovary, with an average dose of 15.3 ± 4.10 Gy.

Conclusion

Sparing an ovary in women undergoing WPRT for cervical cancer is dosimetrically feasible with IMPT without sacrificing coverage to important clinical targets. Future work will incorporate the brachytherapy dose to the ovarian-sparing CTV and assess the clinical response of this technique as a means to preserve ovarian endocrine function.

Fertility preservation strategies for rectal cancer in reproductive-age women

Despite rectal cancer being unusual before 40, fertility preservation (FP) remains a major concern for these reproductive-age women. Treatment usually involves pelvic radiotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and surgery of rectum and mesorectum resection, at high risk of impairing fertility in women with risks of premature ovarian failure and radio-induced uterus damage. To date, there is no consensus on FP strategy for rectal cancer. We shared experiences between oncofertility experts from a French research network Groupe de Recherche et d'Etude en Cryoconservation Ovarienne et Testiculaire about a case of rectal cancer in a young woman. Indications, advantages and disadvantages of different FP strategies were discussed: ovarian transposition, cryopreservation of ovarian cortex and oocyte vitrification. This case was the starting point that led to the development of a French multidisciplinary e-meeting for sharing experiences and for suggesting the best strategy when faced with a complex oncofertility case.

Fertility status perception, fertility preservation and desire to have children in cancer survivors: French VICAN survey

Aim

To report fertility status perception, fertility preservation and desire to have children in French cancer survivors 2 and 5 years after diagnosis.

Methods

A total of 427 women and 115 men self-reported treatment-induced infertility, fertility status, access to gamete conservation, desire to have children and pregnancy/live births.

Results

A total of 96.5% of men and 92.9% of women were thought to be fertile at diagnosis and 38% desired to have children. A total of 57.8% of men and 67.4% of women declared that no fertility preservation had been discussed before treatment. After 2 years, 26.8% of patients still desired to have children. After 5 years, 18 live births have been reported.

Conclusion

Despite a legal obligation and technical progress, there is a lack of information given to patients.

Fertility Preservation: Current and Future Perspectives for Oncologic Patients at Risk for Iatrogenic Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Progress in recent years in the efficacy of oncologic treatment and early diagnosis of cancer has determined an increase in life expectance in cancer patients. About 10% of all cancer cases affect women younger than 45 years; therefore nowadays approximately 5-6% of the population in childbearing age consists in cancer survivors. A crucial issue is the high risk of premature ovarian insufficiency due to possible gonadotoxic effects of oncologic treatments. Considering combined chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplantation, this risk can reach 92-100%, depending on the age and ovarian reserve of the patient, as well as the schedule and type of therapy. International guidelines recommend addressing all the patients diagnosed with a neoplasia treatable with potentially gonadotoxic therapies to fertility preservation. Moreover, fertility preservation also seems to reserve fascinating implications for women who want to delay childbearing for social reasons or women affected with endometriosis, who could receive unexpected opportunities. At present, the most widespread techniques to preserve fertility in adult women are embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, depending on the presence of a partner or according to legislative issues, but these procedures require time for ovarian stimulation. In prepubertal patients or when there is no possibility of delaying chemotherapy, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and subsequent transplantation represent the main strategy.

Laparoscopic ovarian transposition prior to pelvic radiation for gynecologic cancer

This study evaluates a novel technique of laparoscopic ovarian transposition performed by Gynecologic Oncologists prior to pelvic radiation for gynecologic cancer. A retrospective review was completed of all patients that underwent laparoscopic ovarian transposition from February 2007 to June 2017 at one tertiary care cancer. The technique involves salpingectomy, followed by retroperitoneal dissection to move the ovaries lateral to the hepatic and splenic flexures of the colon. Normal ovarian function was defined by the absence of vasomotor symptoms, FSH and menstrual history (if menstruating). The radiation dose to the ovary was calculated through dose volume histograms from three-dimensional image planning. Ten patients had laparoscopic ovarian transposition, of which, eight patients received post-operative external beam radiation to the pelvis (45–59.4 Gy). Four had additional brachytherapy (35.5–40 Gy). Median age and follow up were 29 years (18–37), and 20 months (6–103). Nine patients had cervical and one had vaginal cancer. Four patients were treated with primary radiation, three had radical trachelectomy with adjuvant radiation, and three had radical hysterectomy with one of three receiving adjuvant radiation. No patients developed vasomotor symptoms (0/8 (95% CI 0–19%)). FSH was normal in 2/2 patients. Menses continued post-radiation in 5/7 women who retained their uterus. The median radiation dose to the right and left ovary was 0.51 (0.23–1.1) Gy and 0.53 (0.23–1.1) Gy, respectively. Laparoscopic ovarian transposition with mobilization to the hepatic and splenic flexures of the colon achieves preservation of ovarian function in women prior to pelvic radiation.

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Ovarian transposition lateral to the hepatic and splenic flexure

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Median radiation dose to the ovary was 0.51 Gy (right) and 0.53 Gy (left).

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Preservation of ovarian function all women after pelvic radiation

A Case of Primary Uterina Lymphoma Presenting with Bleeding, Pelvic Pain, and Dysmenorrhea

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) can arise from lymphatic cells located in solid organs (extranodal) and it accounts for 25 to 35% of all NHL. Primary lymphoma on the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a rare disease, comprising 0.2 to 1.1% of all extranodal lymphomas in the female population. In this paper, the authors report an extremely rare case of a 48-year-old woman who exhibited an abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea history. The transvaginal ultrasound showed an anteverted uterus measuring 153 cm³ in volume, with intramural leiomyomas. She underwent a total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy. The histologic evaluation of the specimen showed a follicular lymphoma with diffuse pattern in the endometrium. This report illustrates the difficulty in the diagnosis of primary lymphomas of the female genital tract.

Fertility preservation in post-pubescent female cancer patients: A practical guideline for clinicians

Increasing accessibility of fertility preservation (FP) options has permitted women to retain fertility following anticancer therapies. Several published guidelines have made recommendations for FP however their implementation into practice is currently unknown. In this review, we aim to provide oncology clinicians practical information about FP options for post-pubescent female cancer patients and recommendations for care delivery in order to answer preliminary questions and help triage whether FP referral is appropriate. Herein, we present a resource for oncology providers to guide them with FP discussions. Key points that are discussed in this critical review include: i) All cancer patients beginning a new plan of care should be informed of potential fertility risk. ii) If a woman requests further information on FP interventions, referral to a FP clinic should be made. iii) Given the evolving technologies in this area, patients should be informed of those which are proven and unproven, with oocyte and embryo preservation recognized as standard practice. iv) Random start (independent of menstrual cycle day) techniques are available to minimize oncologic treatment delays. v) Specific protocols for ovarian stimulation may be center-specific. vi) There is unlikely an increased cancer recurrence risk as a result of stimulation protocols in women with hormone-sensitive cancers. vii) Lastly, given the absence of consensus in the literature, routine use of GnRH analogs is not recommended for all cancer patients, however may be considered in select cases, such as high-risk women in whom definitive FP is not possible or feasible.

Prospective, randomized comparison of the use of FloShield Air System® versus the reference technique (water + povidone-iodine solution) during gynecologic endoscopic surgery to evaluate the operative lens vision quality

BACKGROUND

The FloShield Air System^® is a new device for laparoscopic surgery that utilizes a continuous dry CO₂ gas flow over the scope to defog the lens and protect it from condensation, debris and smoke. We set out to compare the performance and efficiency of the device in terms of operative lens vision quality (OLVQ) with the reference technique (water + povidone-iodine (PVI) solution) during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a single-center randomized prospective study between March and June 2016 (Trials Database Registration NCT02702531) including 53 patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery with water + PVI solution and 51 patients who underwent surgical procedures with the FloShield Air System. The primary outcome measure was the number of laparoscope removals during surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the time to clean, assessment of the quality of vision, the correlation between the laparoscopic surgical complexity and outcomes, and cost effectiveness.

RESULTS

Overall, the mean patient age was 43.2 years (range 22-86) and body mass index 24.8 (range 16.8-42.7). The mean number of endoscope removals during surgery was 7.0 (range 0-37) in the water + PVI solution arm and 2.8 (range 0-12) in the FloShield Air System^® arm. The number of removals was significantly lower in the FloShield arm (p < 0.001). No difference in time to clean, quality of vision, level of laparoscopic procedure complexity, or cost was observed between the groups.

CONSLUSIONS

The FloShield Air System^® resulted in fewer laparoscopic lens removals than the water + PVI solution solution, but that there was no difference in quality of vision, cleaning time or cost, especially for the more complex surgery.