Article Text
Abstract
Introduction/Background Chemo-induced amenorrhea represents one of the major toxicities which is a source of concern for young women suffering from breast cancer and treated with chemotherapy. It is defined by an oligo/amenorrhea for 4 months and a level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) > 25 IU/l twice at 4 week intervals before the age of 40 years.
Methodology We conducted a retrospective study on files, in the Medical Oncology department of the CHU Tlemcen over a period of 2 years, including young patients (≤ 35 years old) treated, during the year 2020 and 2021, by adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer to study the incidence of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (ICA).
Results Fourteen patients were collected. The average age is 33 years [27, 35]. Invasive ductal carcinoma was found in 11 patients (78.6%). Hormonal receptors were positive in 11 patients (78.6%) and with a luminal B molecular profile in 6 patients (42.9%). Chemo-induced amenorrhea was observed in 11 patients (78.6%), half of whom were 35 years old (45.45%). Four patients were treated with the anthracyclin based protocol (4AC 60) and 8 patients with sequential anthracylin taxane protocol (4AC/4TXT (4), 3FEC/3TXT (2), 3EC/3TXT (1), 3EC/12 Taxol w(1) and, 2 patients with sequential anthracylin – taxane -trastuzumab protocol (4AC/4TXT/12trastuzumab (1), 3EC/3TXT/12trastuzumab (1). Its was definitive amenorrhea in 9 patients. The treatment was completed by hormone therapy such as Tamoxifen in 9 patients (81.81%) and Tamoxifen + medical castration in 2 patients (14.3%).
Conclusion Young women with localized breast cancer are often candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy, which may be responsible for amenorrhea and have long-term consequences on fertility after definitive amenorrhea.