[Fertility preservation in female cancer patients.]

In Hungary, an average of 2066 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with cancer each year according to data from the National Cancer Registry. Approximately two-thirds of these patients require gonadotoxic treatment for their disease, which could potentially reduce their chances of future conception and childbirth. Currently, there are no professional guidelines on fertility preservation in Hungary, however, it is important to inform patients about their options. In our previous paper, we presented the gonadotoxic effects of oncotherapies and the currently available fertility preservation techniques. This second paper provides current treatment methods and recommends fertility preservation techniques in different cancer types. The success of an oncofertility program relies heavily on the effective communication and collaboration between oncologists and reproductive specialists involved in fertility preservation. This paper may be the first step in elaborating a guideline towards improving access to oncofertility services and ultimately improving the quality of life for young cancer survivors in Hungary. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(29): 1134-1145.

Outcomes after Fertility-sparing Surgery for Women with Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

To compare reproductive and oncologic outcomes of patients diagnosed with early-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma, borderline ovarian tumors, or nonepithelial ovarian carcinoma according to receipt of fertility-sparing surgery or conventional surgery.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed was searched from January 1, 1995, to May 29, 2020.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they (1) enrolled women of childbearing age diagnosed with ovarian cancer between the ages of 18 years and 50 years, (2) reported on oncologic and/or reproductive outcomes after fertility-sparing surgery for ovarian cancer, and (3) included at least 20 patients.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

The initial search identified 995 studies. After duplicates were removed, we abstracted 980 unique citations. Of those screened, 167 publications were identified as potentially relevant, and evaluated for inclusion and exclusion criteria. The final review included 44 studies in epithelial ovarian cancer, 42 in borderline ovarian tumors, and 31 in nonepithelial ovarian carcinoma. The narrative synthesis demonstrated that overall survival does not seem to be compromised in patients undergoing fertility-sparing surgery compared with those undergoing conventional surgery, although long-term data are limited. Areas of controversy include safety of fertility-sparing surgery in the setting of high-risk factors (stage IC, grade 3, and clear cell histology), as well as type of surgery (salpingo-oophorectomy vs cystectomy). It seems that although there may be some fertility compromise after surgery, pregnancy and live-birth rates are encouraging.

CONCLUSION

Fertility-sparing surgery is safe and feasible in women with early-stage low-risk ovarian cancer. Pregnancy outcomes for these patients also seem to be similar to those of the general population.

Clinical and reproductive outcomes of fertility-sparing surgery in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oncologic safety and reproductive outcome in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS). Women aged ≤40 years with stage I EOC who had undergone FSS between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival was examined using the Kaplan-Meier method and statistical significance was analyzed using the log-rank test. A total of 29 EOC patients (stage IA, n=14; stage IC1 n=6; stage IC3, n=9) from seven participating institutions belonging to the Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit were enrolled. After a median follow-up duration of 60.6 months (range, 6–135 months), five patients (17.2%) experienced tumor recurrence. The respective five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 90.9 and 100% for stage IA/IC1, and 43.8 and 87.5% for stage IC3. Significant differences in RFS were observed between stage IA/IC1 and IC3 patients (P=0.026). However, there was no significant difference in OS between patients with 1A/1C1 and those with 1C3 (P=0.712). After FSS, seven pregnancies occurred in five patients, which resulted in the birth of six healthy children. The results of the present study confirmed that FSS may be an acceptable treatment method for stage IA and IC1 EOC, exhibiting a favorable reproductive outcome. However, the safety of FSS for treating stage IC3 EOC is uncertain and warrants further investigation.

[Epithelial ovarian cancer and fertility preservation: Article drafted from the French Guidelines in oncology entitled "Initial management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer" developed by FRANCOGYN, CNGOF, SFOG, GINECO-ARCAGY under the aegis of CNGOF and endorsed by INCa]

OBJECTIVES

To study the methods and strategies of fertility preservation in young women with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), in order to provide recommendations for clinical practice.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for english and french language articles, between 2005 and 2001, according to predefined search equations.

RESULTS

Young patients with stage IA EOC willing to conceive should be informed that conservative treatment (contralateral ovary and salpinx, uterus) is possible (GradeC), associated with a 6 % to 13 % recurrence risk (GradeC) on the remaining ovary. This conservative surgical treatment includes adnexectomy, peritoneal and lymph node staging for all subtypes, and additional endometrial curettage for endometriosis and mucinous subtypes (GradeC). In case of positive staging conservative treatment is not possible. In case of mucinous EOC with an infiltrative pattern, lymph node staging is not necessary. Multidisciplinary analysis (including oncologists and reproductive medicine specialists) of the risk-benefit balance for a conservative surgery is recommended and must rely on a complete final pathology report (GradeC). No recommendation on bilateral adnexectomy and uterine conservation to allow pregnancy using egg donation can be provided in case of low-grade stage IA EOC, in the absence of data. Bilateral adnexectomy and uterine conservation to allow pregnancy using egg donation can be offered in case of serous, mucinous or endometrioid high-grade FIGO stage IA or low-grade FIGO stage IC1 or IC2 EOC (GradeC). Preservation of the uterus and contralateral ovary and Fallopian tube can be discussed with a specialized rare ovarian tumors multidiciplinary staff in case of clear cell stage I EOC.

Oncofertility in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer: fertility-sparing surgery in young women of reproductive age

BACKGROUND

Fertility-sparing surgery is indicated for patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancers. We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes and oncofertility in a cohort of patients of reproductive age with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

METHODS

Overall, 108 patients of reproductive age (≤ 40 years) diagnosed with stage I EOC who were treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1999 and 2013 were included in the study. The Kaplan-Meier model and Cox regression analyses were used for the survival analysis.

RESULTS

The type of surgery included fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) (48.1%) and radical surgery (RS) (51.9%). After a median follow-up of 83 months, we observed that grade 3 or clear-cell carcinoma was the only independent risk factor for disease-free survival and tumor-specific survival in the multivariate analysis. Patients with grade 3 or clear-cell carcinoma tended to be older than 30 years, have endometriosis, and undergo RS (p < 0.05). Fertility-sparing surgery did not affect disease-free survival or tumor-specific survival among patients of reproductive age with stage I EOC and among high-risk patients with stage IC2-3, grade 3, or clear-cell carcinoma. Thirty-four out of 52 (65.4%) FSS patients attempted to get pregnant. Twenty-eight (82.4%) achieved a successful pregnancy with a full-term delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Grade 3 or clear-cell carcinoma was the only independent risk factor for survival of patients of reproductive age with stage I EOC. FSS can be safely performed on patients of reproductive age with grade 1-2, stage I EOC. The safety of FSS for grade 3 and clear-cell carcinoma warrants further investigation.

Fertility-sparing surgery for early stage epithelial ovarian cancer

Discussion of fertility-sparing treatment is an important part of pretreatment counseling for young patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer. As a result of late childbearing nowadays, fertility preservation has become a major issue in ovarian cancer patients. The purpose of this review is to update current knowledge on fertility-sparing treatment for early stage epithelial ovarian cancer, which may be useful for pretreatment counseling for reproductive-age patients. The multicenter study data on the fertility-sparing treatment published by Japan Clinical Oncology Group in 2010 confirmed that fertility-sparing surgery is a safe treatment for Stage IA patients with non-clear cell histology and Grade 1 or 2 and suggested that Stage IA patients with clear cell histology and Stage IC patients with non-clear cell histology and Grade 1 or 2 can be candidates for fertility-sparing surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. In the current review, we added the recent case series and review, and discussed the fertility-sparing treatment on young patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer. We need not to change the proposal by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group study, but we should wait for the results of an ongoing prospective study to strongly recommend the proposal of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group study.

Fertility-sparing surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer

Since the last two decades, the feasibility of fertility-sparing surgery in early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer has been explored by several teams. Despite the impossibility of conducting a randomized trial to validate this management, evidence-based data suggest that in selected cases, the preservation of the uterus and at least one part of the ovary does not lead to a high risk of relapse. Conservative surgery maintains organ function, enables patients of childbearing age to preserve their fertility and improves their quality of life. In this review, we analyze the main series in the literature on this topic in order to highlight the selected criteria for conservative management and to summarize oncological and fertility outcomes.

Long-term follow-up of patients with an isolated ovarian recurrence after conservative treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer: review of the results of an international multicenter study comprising 545 patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the long-term outcomes of patients with an isolated ovarian recurrence after fertility sparing surgery (FSS) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to evaluate the recurrence rates (and location) according to the new 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system.

DESIGN

Retrospective multicenter study.

SETTING

Teams having reported recurrence after FSS for EOC.

PATIENT(S)

Four series comprising 545 patients undergoing FSS and 63 (12%) recurrences.

INTERVENTION(S)

FSS (salpingo-oophorectomy for a majority of cases) for EOC.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE(S)

Recurrences rates and characteristics of recurrent disease.

RESULT(S)

Among 63 recurrent patients, 24 (38%) recurrences were isolated on the spared ovary, and 39 (62%) arose at an extraovarian site. Among the patients with an isolated ovarian recurrence, three patients died after a median follow-up period of 186 months (range: 28-294 months). Among the patients with recurrent extraovarian disease, 24 died and 7 were alive with persistent disease after a median follow-up period of 34 months (range: 3-231 months). The overall rate of isolated ovarian and extrapelvic recurrences was higher for grade 3 tumors (compared with grades 1/2).

CONCLUSION(S)

The long-term survival of patients with an isolated ovarian recurrence after FSS for EOC remains favorable. The prognosis of patients with an extraovarian recurrence is poor compared with those who have an isolated recurrent ovarian tumor. Grade 3 tumors (compared to grades 1/2) give rise to a higher rate of extraovarian recurrences.

[Methods and conditions of fertility preservation in early-stage ovarian tumors]

The aim of this study is to review the literature of fertility-sparing techniques and their safety in early-stage malignant ovarian tumors, especially in epithelial ovarian cancer. Fertility preservation is widely accepted in early-stage borderline, germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumors. Based on data from retrospective studies, fertility-sparing surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer can be recommended in stage IA, grade 1-2 and favorable hystologic type ovarian cancer. Above stage IA, or in grade 3, or in clear-cell tumors decision making process about fertility-sparing surgery should be individual. Correct surgical staging is mandatory and oncologic safety should be of primary importance. In the group of carefully selected patients oncological outcomes are identical to those of radical surgery. Spontaneous pregnancy rates vary, but they are generally high. Adequate counseling with patients, detailed documentation and careful follow-up is of outstanding importance. In order to improve the quality of fertility preservation techniques, establishment of treatment centers is recommended.

Recommendations of the Fertility Task Force of the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology about the conservative management of ovarian malignant tumors

In young patients with borderline ovarian tumor a conservative treatment approach does not seem to have a significant impact on survival, and the outcome regarding fertility is good in general. It can be considered even if noninvasive peritoneal implants are discovered at the time of the initial surgery. In contrast, in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, conservative surgery should be considered only in adequately staged patients, with a stage IA grade 1 (and probably 2) serous, mucinous or an endometrioid tumor, including a careful follow-up. Such an approach could also probably be discussed in stage IC grade 1 disease.In patients with nonepithelial malignant ovarian tumors, conservative surgery is also feasible, particularly in patients with malignant germ cell tumors because of their high chemosensitivity leading to an excellent prognosis in general.

Outcomes of Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Proposal for Patient Selection

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess clinical outcomes and fertility in patients treated conservatively for unilateral stage I invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Patients and Methods

A multi-institutional retrospective investigation was undertaken to identify patients with unilateral stage I EOC treated with fertility-sparing surgery. Favorable histology was defined as grade 1 or grade 2 adenocarcinoma, excluding clear cell histology.

Results

A total of 211 patients (stage IA, n = 126; stage IC, n = 85) were identified from 30 institutions. Median duration of follow-up was 78 months. Five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival were 100% and 97.8% for stage IA and favorable histology (n = 108), 100% and 100% for stage IA and clear cell histology (n = 15), 100% and 33.3% for stage IA and grade 3 (n = 3), 96.9% and 92.1% for stage IC and favorable histology (n = 67), 93.3% and 66.0% for stage IC and clear cell histology (n = 15), and 66.7% and 66.7% for stage IC and grade 3 (n = 3). Forty-five (53.6%) of 84 patients who were nulliparous at fertility-sparing surgery and married at the time of investigation gave birth to 56 healthy children.

Conclusion

Our data confirm that fertility-sparing surgery is a safe treatment for stage IA patients with favorable histology and suggest that stage IA patients with clear cell histology and stage IC patients with favorable histology can be candidates for fertility-sparing surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.