title: Tamoxifen and ovarian function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some studies suggest that the clinical parameter "amenorrhea" is insufficient to define the menopausal status of women treated with chemotherapy or tamoxifen. In this study, we investigated and compared the ovarian function defined either by clinical or biological parameters in pre-menopausal breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen administered as adjuvant therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2003, 138 premenopausal patients consecutively treated for early breast cancer were included. Sixty-eight received tamoxifen in monotherapy as the only adjuvant systemic treatment (Group I) and 70 were treated with tamoxifen after adjuvant chemotherapy (Group II). All patients had a confirmed premenopausal status based on clinical parameters and hormonal values at study entry. They were followed prospectively every 3 months for 3 years: menses data, physical examination and blood tests (LH, FSH, 17-beta-estradiol). Vaginal ultrasonography was carried out every 6 months. After 3 years, prospective evaluation was completed and monitoring of ovarian function was performed as usual in our institution (1x/year). All data were retrospectively evaluated in 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients were excluded from the study in group I and 2 were excluded in group II. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to clinical data, i.e. menses patterns. These patterns were assessed by questionnaires. a: Regular menses (>10 cycles/year) b: Oligomenorrhea (5 to 9 cycles/year) c: Severe oligomenorrhea (1 to 4 cycles/year) d: Complete amenorrhea Estrogen levels did not appear to have any impact on disease-free survival rates after 3 or 8 years. FSH values were also documented and analyzed. They exhibited the same profile as estradiol values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amenorrhea is an insufficient parameter to define menopausal status in patients receiving tamoxifen. Low estradiol levels must be coupled with other biological parameters to characterize endocrine status. These data are very important for the choice of endocrine therapy.
authors.affiliation: Clinique du sein, Centre du Cancer, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. martine.berliere@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berliere
authors.forename: Francois P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Duhoux
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalenc
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baurain
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dellevigne
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galant
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Maanen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Jean-Pascal
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Machiels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017697:Premenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004958:Estradiol