Adjuvant hormonal therapy and fertility preservation in premenopausal breast cancer: a survey among Italian oncologists

Future Oncol. 2015;11(8):1181-9. doi: 10.2217/fon.14.289.

Abstract

Background: Increasing age of first pregnancy among Italian women with premenopausal breast cancer makes adjuvant hormonal therapy a hot topic, justifying a survey on the therapeutic approach of Italian oncologists.

Materials & methods: From April to July 2012, an 11-item electronic questionnaire was submitted to Italian oncologists and 611 out of 974 invited filled questionnaires were collected from all over Italy.

Results: In total, 97.7% of patients aged <40 years needing only hormonal therapy would receive both tamoxifen and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHa); 2.3% tamoxifen or LHRHa alone. For the majority of oncologists LHRHa was also the preferred choice to preserving fertility.

Conclusion: Results are rather consistent with major guidelines but with a greater use of LHRHa and aromatase inhibitor.

Keywords: adjuvant hormone-therapy; premenopausal breast cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Fertility Preservation*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / agonists*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Medical Oncology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Pregnancy Tests
  • Premenopause
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Tamoxifen
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone