Acute onset of ovarian dysfunction in young females after start of cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND:
Female childhood cancer survivors are at risk of ovarian failure and premature ovarian insufficiency. We hereby present an interim analysis of a prospective observational study of ovarian function during cancer treatment of young females in relation to clinical factors.

PROCEDURE: Thirty-four consecutive female cancer patients aged 0-18 year were included after informed consent. Serum/Plasma levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, FSH, LH, and oestradiol (E2) were measured at diagnosis and every 3-4 months during and after treatment.

RESULTS: All patients had detectable AMH levels at diagnosis. Eleven patients had reached menarche (mean age 14½ years) and the remaining patients had a mean age of 6½ years. They all showed a rapid decline in AMH after 3 months of treatment, regardless of AMH at diagnosis, age, menarche, or treatment given. Those given radiotherapy below the diaphragm and/or stem cell transplantation (SCT) (n = 9) had no ovarian recovery during or 1½-year after treatment. However, recovery was observed in those given standard treatment for acute lymphatic leukemia (n = 7) already during maintenance chemotherapy. For the remaining patients, longer follow-up is required for analysis of ovarian recovery after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Rapid ovarian dysfunction is observed in all females after initiation of cancer treatment as measured by AMH and inhibin B. Our data regarding those who require abdominal radiotherapy and/or SCT confirms the recommendations in the Nordic countries where these patients are eligible for cryopreservation of ovarian cortical tissue before start of cancer treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.