Breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may benefit from a hormone-suppressing drug that may help boost future fertility options and even increase survival chances, according to a government study.
The drug, called goserelin, could thwart the impact of cancer treatment drugs that can cause infertility or bring on menopause symptoms during treatment, decreasing a woman's chances of having children once treatment is completed.
"I think this is ready to put into practice for patients who want to avoid ovarian failure with chemotherapy," said oncologist Halle Moore, who was involved in the study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic. "I think this is something that should be offered to young women given chemo with curative intent, similar to those in this trial."
The hormone shot, however, isn't a panacea for every breast cancer patients as it only works with specific hormone receptors and the study authors note the hormone shot is just an additional option for patients concerned about future fertility.
"I wouldn't say this is the only way to preserve fertility," said Jennifer Keating Litton, a breast-cancer specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "It may be something to add to current offerings," said Litton who did not participate in the study.
The study involved women under the age of 50 whose cancer was in the breast and nearby lymph nodes and who were undergoing chemo. Goserelin is currently used to treat prostate cancer as well as a uterine disorder.
The study reveals the hormone treatment boosted fertility by 15 percent. It also appears to boost survival rates by 10 percent versus patients who did not get goserelin with the chemo treatment.
"They're really exciting findings" that could help thousands of women each year in the United States alone, said the study's leader, Dr. Halle Moore.
About 16,000 U.S. women under the age of 45 are treated for breast cancer each year, states a report.
