Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment for the prevention of treatment-related ovarian failure and infertility in women of reproductive age with Hodgkin lymphoma

Fertility preservation in lymphoma patients treated with immunochemotherapy regimens with or without radiotherapy: results of a retrospective multicenter Italian study (Ferty care)

This is a retrospective, multicentric study, aimed to describe the real-life application of fertility preservation methods during treatment in female lymphoma patients, aged 18-40 years old, diagnosed between Oct 1st/2010 and May 31st/2018. Among 414 women included, median age was 28 years old, histologies were: HL 74%, PMBCL 13%, DLBCL 10%, others 3%. First line treatments were: ABVD in 295 (71%), R-CHOP like in 102 (25%), higher intensity regimens in 17 (4%) cases. Fertility preservation strategies were: GnRHa in 315 (78%), Oral Contraceptive in 41 (10%), oocytes and ovarian tissue cryopreservation in 55 and 42 patients, respectively. After therapy, we observed a restored regular period in 293 (70%) and premature ovarian failure (POF) in 33 (8%), Furthermore we recorded 43 pregnancies, all spontaneous with 5 years median follow-up. Median age at diagnosis and number of lines of treatment correlate with higher rate of amenorrhea, risk of POF and menopause (p < 0.001).

The use of GnRH analogs in preserving ovarian function during chemotherapy

Background

The literature has always been controversial on the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in preserving fertility in women of childbearing age after chemotherapy; thereby, in this article, we will be discussing its use in preserving fertility.

Main body of abstract

When it comes to preserving fertility, it is crucial to consider all available options in this topic due to its very sensitive nature, thereby we have found that while a lot of trials favor the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, the lack of proper follow-up and long-term trials renders its use highly debatable, and since the longest follow-up trial showed non-significant results, it also opens the floor for debate on whether this short-term benefit is worth adding another drug to the regimen or not.

Short conclusion

As described in this review, while the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists is beneficial in a lot of studies, the lack of long-term reports still makes its use debatable, thereby more trials should be done.

Male and Female Fertility: Prevention and Monitoring Hodgkin' Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Adult Survivors. A Systematic Review by the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

BACKGROUND

Adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have prolonged survival but face the risk of treatment-induced impaired fertility. This systematic review, conducted by Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL) researchers, aims to evaluate the incidence of treatment-related infertility, fertility preservation options, fertility assessment measures, and the optimal interval between the end of treatment and conception.

METHODS

MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were systematically searched up to September 2020 for published cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies on fertility issues.

RESULTS

Forty-five eligible studies were identified. Gonadotoxicity was related to sex, type and dosage of treatment, and, in females, to age. After receiving alkylating-agent-containing regimens, less than 30% of males recovered spermatogenesis, and 45% of females ≥30 years in age retained regular menstrual cycles. Sperm cryopreservation was offered to the majority of patients; sperm utilization resulted in a 33-61% pregnancy rate. After ovarian tissue transplantation, the spontaneous pregnancy and live birth rates were 38% and 23%; after IVF, the live birth rate was 38.4%. No data could be extracted on the utilization rate of cryopreserved mature oocytes. The results of studies on GnRH analogs are controversial; therefore, their use should not be considered an alternative to established cryopreservation techniques. Sperm count, FSH, and inhibin-B levels were appropriate measures to investigate male fertility; serum AMH levels and antral follicle count were the most appropriate markers for ovarian reserve. No data could be found regarding the optimal interval between the end of treatment and conception.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of infertility should be discussed with adult lymphoma patients at the time of diagnosis, and fertility preservation options should be proposed before first-line treatment with alkylating-agent-containing regimens.

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 Using GnRH Agonists: Rationale, Possible Mechanisms, and Explanation of Controversy

The only clinically accepted method of fertility preservation in young women facing gonadotoxic chemo- and/or radiotherapy for malignant or autoimmune diseases is cryopreservation of embryos or unfertilized ova, whereas cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for future reimplantation, or in vitro maturation of follicles, and the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) are still considered investigational, by several authorities. Whereas previous publications have raised the fear of GnRHa's possible detrimental effects in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that it either improves or does not affect disease-free survival (DFS) in such patients. This review summarizes the pros and cons of GnRHa co-treatment for fertility preservation, suggesting 5 theoretical mechanisms for GnRHa action: (1) simulating the prepubertal hypogonadotropic milieu, (2) direct effect on GnRH receptors, (3) decreased ovarian perfusion, (4) upregulation of an ovarian-protecting molecule such as sphingosine-1-phosphate, and (5) protecting a possible germinative stem cell. We try to explain the reasons for the discrepancy between most publications that support the use of GnRHa for fertility preservation and the minority of publications that did not support its efficiency.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs for Gonadal Protection During Gonadotoxic Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) have a protective role in women treated with alkylating agents.

DATA SOURCES

Major databases (PubMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), systematic snowballing, and trial registries were screened from the inception dates until September 2017.

METHODS AND STUDY SELECTION

Comparative studies involving reproductive-aged women undergoing chemotherapy with or without coadministration of GnRHa were included. Spontaneous menstrual resumption was assessed as a main outcome. Statistical analyses were performed with STATA 14.2 statistical software. Effect estimates were presented as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 25 436 citations and 84 papers were assessed in full text. Eighteen studies (11 randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 7 cohort studies) published between 1987 and 2015 were included in the analysis, revealing a significant protective effect of GnRHa (n = 1043; RR:1.38; 95% CI: 1.18-1.63) although with high heterogeneity (I² = 83.3%). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant benefit of GnRHa cotreatment both in RCTs and in cohort studies. Statistical significance was found in all subgroups by the underlying disease, that is, hematological malignancies, autoimmune diseases, and breast cancer. Sensitivity analyses in GnRH agonist-treated patients, in patients younger than 40 years old, and in patients without supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy also revealed a significant benefit of GnRHa cotreatment.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that concurrent GnRHa administration is an effective method to decrease gonadotoxicity of alkylating agents. The presence of low-quality evidence favoring gonadoprotective effect requires a strong recommendation for offering GnRHa coadministration to young women who are to undergo gonadotoxic chemotherapy.

CAPSULE

The present systematic review and meta-analysis shows a significant gonadoprotective effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in women treated with alkylating agents.

Fertility preservation in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients that undergo targeted molecular therapies: an important step forward from the chemotherapy era

In total, 80%-90% of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients are curable with combination chemoradiotherapy. Due to improvements in therapeutic strategies, 50% of all relapsed/refractory patients may undergo complete clinical responses and have long-term survival. Treatment options for HL are effective, but may have a negative impact on post-chemotherapy fertility. Thus, cryopreservation of semen prior to treatment is recommended for male patients. For female patients, assisted reproductive techniques (ART) consult and fertility preservation should be offered as a therapeutical option. In the last years, new targeted molecules have been available for HL treatment. These new drugs showed a high rate of overall responses in the setting of heavily pretreated patients, most of them in relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation, a group previously considered very poor risk. Up to 50% of patients have a complete response and an improved overall survival. Future studies will address the usefulness of novel molecules as a frontline therapy. Considering the high response and survival rates with monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics, fertility has become a concerning issue for long-term HL survivors. As progress has been made regarding ART, with the rigorous steps planned for HL patients, more survivors will become parents.

Preserving fertility when choosing chemotherapy regimens - the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists

INTRODUCTION

The late effects of cancer treatment have recently gained a worldwide ubiquitous interest among reproductive endocrinologists, oncologists, and all health care providers. Despite many publications on this subject, there are many equivocal issues necessitating summary. The case for and against using GnRH-agonist for fertility preservation is summarized with the rationale that preventing ovarian failure may be better than treating it.

AREAS COVERED

We searched Medline in the last 10 years using terms: 'fertility preservation', 'female chemotherapy', 'Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues', 'GnRH agonists' 'gonadotoxicity', and 'cancer treatment'. We included mainly publications from the past 7 years, but did not exclude previous, commonly referenced publications. Here, we summarize the various methods available for fertility preservation and minimizing chemotherapy induced gonadotoxicity.

EXPERT OPINION

Until now, 20 studies (15 retrospective and 5 randomized controlled trial) have reported on 2038 patients treated with GnRH-a in parallel to chemotherapy, showing a significant decrease in premature ovarian failure (POF) rate in survivors versus 8 studies reporting on 509 patients, with negative results. Patients treated with GnRH-a in parallel to chemotherapy preserved their cyclic ovarian function in 91% of cases as compared to 41% of controls, with a pregnancy rate of 19 - 71% in the treated patients. Furthermore, over 10 recent meta-analyses have concluded that GnRH-a are beneficial and may decrease the risk of POF in survivors. Because most of the methods involving ovarian or egg cryopreservation are not yet clinically established and unequivocally successful, these young patients deserve to be informed with all the various modalities to minimize gonadal damage and preserve ovarian function and future fertility. Combining the various modalities for a specific patient may increase the odds of preservation of future fertility.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Fertility Preservation Options for Inclusion in Treatment Protocols for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients Diagnosed With Cancer

As survival rates improve for pediatric cancers, increased attention has been paid to late effects of cancer therapy, in particular, infertility. Fertility preservation options are available for pre- and postpubertal cancer patients; however, many providers lack knowledge regarding options. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence and recommendations regarding fertility preservation options for children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing cancer treatment. A systematic search was performed to identify fertility preservation evidence. Fifty-three studies and 4 clinical guidelines were used for the review. Final recommendations consisted of 2 strong and 1 weak recommendation for both female and male fertility preservation options. The treatment team should be knowledgeable about fertility preservation so that they can educate patients and families about available fertility preservation options. It is important to consider and discuss all available fertility options with patients at the time of diagnosis.

Female reproductive health after childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers: guidelines for the assessment and management of female reproductive complications

PURPOSE

As more young female patients with cancer survive their primary disease, concerns about reproductive health related to primary therapy gain relevance. Cancer therapy can often affect reproductive organs, leading to impaired pubertal development, hormonal regulation, fertility, and sexual function, affecting quality of life.

METHODS

The Children's Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer (COG-LTFU Guidelines) are evidence-based recommendations for screening and management of late effects of therapeutic exposures. The guidelines are updated every 2 years by a multidisciplinary panel based on current literature review and expert consensus.

RESULTS

This review summarizes the current task force recommendations for the assessment and management of female reproductive complications after treatment for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers. Experimental pretreatment as well as post-treatment fertility preservation strategies, including barriers and ethical considerations, which are not included in the COG-LTFU Guidelines, are also discussed.

CONCLUSION

Ongoing research will continue to inform COG-LTFU Guideline recommendations for follow-up care of female survivors of childhood cancer to improve their health and quality of life.

Fertility in female survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma

Currently, Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most curable types of cancer. Patients are often young and so the long-term morbidities of treatment have become of increasing concern. Among these, infertility is one of the most challenging consequences for patients in reproductive age. Premature ovarian failure in premenopausal women is a serious long-term sequel of the toxicity of chemotherapy. The main consequence of this syndrome is infertility, but women also present other symptoms related to estrogen deprivation. Different rates of impaired gonadal function are reported, depending on the patient's age, stage of disease, dose and intensity of chemotherapy and the use of radiation therapy. The most established strategy in female infertility is cryopreservation of embryos after in vitro fertilization. Additionally, the use of oral contraceptives or gonadotropinreleasing hormone analogs (GnRH-a) during treatment is under study. This review will provide a general overview of the main studies conducted to evaluate the infertility rate among female Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors and risk factors associated to treatment, different end-point definitions for evaluating fertility and also a brief description of the available strategies for fertility preservation.

Adjuvant gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for the prevention of chemotherapy induced premature ovarian failure in premenopausal women

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy has significantly improved prognosis for patients with malignant and some non-malignant conditions. This treatment, however, is associated with ovarian toxicity and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues may have a protective effect on the ovaries. The mechanism of action of GnRH is based on suppression of the gonadotropin levels to simulate pre-pubertal hormonal milieu and decrease utero-ovarian perfusion.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of GnRH analogues given before or in parallel to chemotherapy to prevent chemotherapy-related ovarian damage in premenopausal women with malignant or non-malignant conditions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group Specialized Register (up to July 2011), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2011); MEDLINE (1950 to July 2011); EMBASE (1980 to July 2011); and the Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM) (1976 to July 2011).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in all languages, which examined the effect of GnRH analogues for chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure in premenopausal women, were eligible for inclusion in the review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We analyzed binary data using risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and for continuous data, we used the standardized mean difference (SMD) to combine trials. As there was substantial difference in the types of chemotherapy used, we applied the random-effects model in our analyses. We contacted study authors for additional information.

MAIN RESULTS

Included studies in this review showed that intramuscular/subcutaneous administration of GnRH agonists was effective in protecting menstruation and ovulation after chemotherapy (resumed menses: RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.79; amenorrhoea: RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.58; ovulation: RR 2.70, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.79), whereas intranasal administration of GnRH agonists had no protective effect on ovaries (resumed menses: RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.72; ovulation: RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.20 to 6.24). Pregnancy rates were not significantly different between groups (intramuscular/subcutaneous GnRH agonist: RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.01 to 4.09; intranasal GnRH agonist: RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.02 to 8.84). Ultrasound antral follicular count (AFC) was not significantly different between groups (SMD 1.11, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.90).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The use of GnRH agonists should be considered in women of reproductive age receiving chemotherapy. Intramuscular or subcutaneous GnRH analogues seem to be effective in protecting ovaries during chemotherapy and should be given before or during treatment, although no significant difference in pregnancy rates was seen.

Management of fertility in patients treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma

The risk of developing premature ovarian failure and azoospermia is a major concern in long-term survivors treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Alkylating chemotherapy containing procarbazine and/or cyclophosphamide causes prolonged azoospermia in 90-100% of men and premature ovarian failure in 5-25% of women under the age of 30. The risk of infertility increases with the cumulative dose of alkylating agents and the risk is high after salvage therapy including conditioning and autologous or allogeneic transplantation. The doxorubicin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine regimen is associated with a lower risk of gonadal damage; the rate of infertility is less than 10%. The risk of premature ovarian failure is limited after the doxorubicin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine regimen. However, age is an important factor; women over 30 years of age are at a much higher risk of ovarian failure. Semen cryopreservation should be routinely offered, especially before initial treatment with bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisolone or salvage therapy with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation. For women with a stable partner, in vitro fertilization for embryo cryopreservation is a routine procedure but can only be offered to a small number of patients and requires a delay in treatment initiation for at least four weeks. Cryopreservation of mature or immature oocytes remains experimental. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is promising but has so far resulted in only a small number of pregnancies and births. This method, usually involving the removal of an entire ovary, is only proposed before treatment leading to a high risk of infertility. Analogs of LHRH were investigated in order to preserve fertility in women but are not recommended in the absence of studies demonstrating their effectiveness. The risk of secondary infertility should be discussed with patients from the time of the diagnosis and requires multidisciplinary collaboration between hematologists and Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) teams.