title: Pregnancy after breast cancer: Are young patients willing to participate in clinical studies?
abstract: Young patients with breast cancer (BC) are often concerned about treatment-induced infertility and express maternity desire. Conception after BC does not seem to affect outcome, but information in estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) disease is not definitive. From September 2012-March 2013, 212 evaluable patients with ER+ early BC, <37 years at diagnosis, from 5 regions (Europe/US/Canada/Middle-East/Australia) answered a survey about fertility concerns, maternity desire and interest in a study of endocrine therapy (ET) interruption to allow pregnancy. Overall, 37% of respondents were interested in the study; younger patients (≤30 years) reported higher interest (57%). Motivation in younger patients treated >30 months was higher (83%) than in older women (14%), interest was independent of age in patients treated for ≤30 months. A prospective study in this patient population seems relevant and feasible. The International-Breast-Cancer-Study-Group (IBCSG), within the Breast-International-Group (BIG) - North-American-Breast-Cancer-Groups (NABCG) collaboration, is launching a study (POSITIVE) addressing ET interruption to allow pregnancy.
authors: Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), Effingerstrasse 40, 3008 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: olivia.pagani@ibcsg.org.
authors: Olivia
authors: O
authors: Pagani
authors: International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), Effingerstrasse 40, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Ruggeri
authors: Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Manunta
authors: School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
authors: Christobel
authors: C
authors: Saunders
authors: Fertility & Procreation Unit, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy.
authors: Fedro
authors: F
authors: Peccatori
authors: Breast Unit, Champalimaud Cancer Centre, Av. De Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, 1400 - 038 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Cardoso
authors: Breast Cancer Service for Young Women, Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel.
authors: Bella
authors: B
authors: Kaufman
authors: Breast Cancer Service for Young Women, Oncology Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel.
authors: Shani
authors: S
authors: Paluch-Shimon
authors: Woman and Fetal Imaging Clinic (WAFI), 2 Mohamed Farid Wagdy St., Suite41 Manial Al Roda Island, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Hanan
authors: H
authors: Gewefel
authors: Ospedale Multimedica, Viale Piemonte 70, Castellanza, VA, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Gallerani
authors: Department of Oncology, King Abdul Aziz Medical City for National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: O Malkahi
authors: OM
authors: Abulkhair
authors: Oncology Department Macerata Hospital, Via S. Lucia 1, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Pistilli
authors: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, Medical Oncology, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Warner
authors: Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Box 1352, Heraklion 71110, Greece.
authors: Emmanouil
authors: E
authors: Saloustros
authors: Greeceo Unité d'oncologie, Ensemble hospitalier de la Côte, Hôpital de Morges, Morges and Centre pluridisciplinaire d'oncologie (CePO), CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Lucien
authors: L
authors: Perey
authors: CHUV-Centre d'Oncologie, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Khalil
authors: K
authors: Zaman
authors: Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Medizinische Onkologie/Brust-und Tumor Zentrum der Frauenklinik, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Rabaglio
authors: IBCSG Statistical Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Shari
authors: S
authors: Gelber
authors: IBCSG Statistical Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Gelber
authors: International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), Effingerstrasse 40, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Program of Breast Health, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Via Ripamonti, 435, 20141 Milano, Italy.
authors: Aron
authors: A
authors: Goldhirsch
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Larissa
authors: L
authors: Korde
authors: Department of Medicine, BrEAST Data Centre, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de, Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Hatem A
authors: HA
authors: Azim
authors: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Yawkey 12, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors: Ann H
authors: AH
authors: Partridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: Breast cancer; Endocrine treatment; Estrogen receptor; Pregnancy; Young patients