Title:GnRH-Analogues for Ovarian Protection in Childhood Cancer Patients: How Adult Hypotheses are Relevant in Prepubertal Females
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
Author(s): Shelby E. Osborne and Laura Detti
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Chemotherapy, childhood cancer, prepubertal, GnRH-analogues, ovarian preservation.
Abstract: Systemic chemotherapy frequently causes primary ovarian insufficiency. In prepubertal girls, currently the only
option to preserve ovarian function is ovarian tissue preservation. The use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues
given in combination with chemotherapy has been studied in reproductive age women. The exact mechanism is unknown,
but some of the proposed protective mechanisms could theoretically protect the prepubertal ovary as it has been theorized
in many of the studies on reproductive age women. None of the studies implies an adverse affect of GnRH analogue administration
in terms of worsening health or cancer status. As 83% of children diagnosed with cancer will survive into
adulthood, GnRH analogue administration to female childhood cancer patients in combination with chemotherapy might
represent a valuable attempt to preserve future ovarian function and fertility when ovarian tissue preservation is not an option.
