Systematic review of available guidelines on fertility preservation of young patients with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Since the survival rate of breast cancer patients has improved, harmful effects of new treatment modalities on fertility of the young breast cancer patients has become a focus of attention. This study aimed to systematically review and critically appraise all available guidelines for fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Major citation databases were searched for treatment guidelines. Experts from relevant disciplines appraised the available guidelines. The AGREE II Instrument that includes 23 criteria in seven domains (scope and purpose of the guidelines, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity, applicability, editorial independence, and overall quality) was used to apprise and score the guidelines.


RESULTS
The search strategy retrieved 2,606 citations; 72 were considered for full-text screening and seven guidelines were included in the study. There was variability in the scores assigned to different domains among the guidelines. ASCO (2013), with an overall score of 68.0%, had the highest score, and St Gallen, with an overall score of 24.7%, had the lowest scores among the guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
With the promising survival rate among breast cancer patients, more attention should be given to include specific fertility preservation recommendations for young breast cancer patients.
Cancer Models Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran E-mail : amanpour_s@tums.ac.ir.
Mahnaz
M
Haddadi
Samad
S
Muhammadnejad
Fariba
F
Sadeghi-Fazel
Zahra
Z
Zandieh
Gohar
G
Rahimi
Sanambar
S
Sadighi
Parya
P
Akbari
Mohammad-Ali
MA
Mohagheghi
Alireza
A
Mosavi-Jarrahi
Saeid
S
Amanpour
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011786:Quality Control