title: Ovarian function in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
abstract: Plasma oestradiol-plus-oestron (E2 + E1), follicle-stimulating hormone (F.S.H.), luteinising hormone (L.H.), androstenedione (A2), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (D.S.) were measured in 33 breast-cancer patients before and after adjuvant chemotherapy. Before treatment the plasma E2 + E1, A2, and D.S. levels were significantly higher and the L.H. and F.S.H. lower in the 16 premenopausal patients than in the 17 postmenopausal patients. After 6 mo of adjuvant chemotherapy the premenopausal patients, 11 of whom had become amenorrhoeic, showed striking reductions in plasma E2 + E1 and A2 and elevations in plasma L.H. and F.S.H. Further changes were evident after 12 mo of treatment. Plasma-A2 fell after chemotherapy in the postmenopausal group; the other hormones were unchanged. The beneficial effects of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer may result, in part, from suppression of ovarian function.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004970:Estrone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D008558:Melphalan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate