Chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea

Fertility Anthracycline chemotherapy can cause chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea (CIA) which is associated with infertility and symptoms of menopause. Of 165 epirubicin-treated patients recruited for a study, CIA occurred in 72 patients (43.64%). CIA was defined as the cessation of menses for at least one year after chemotherapy completion... 

Adjuvant chemotherapy with CMF administered to premenopausal women with axillary node positive breast cancer (B3) induced permanent ovarian suppression in 47 of 77 (61%) patients. After a median observation time of 37 months, the relapse-free and overall survival times were significantly longer for patients with permanent amenorrhoea. A strongly positive correlation between CMF-induced amenorrhoea and age of the patients, as well as between age and tumor PRP status, was found. The induction of ovarian suppression predominantly occurs in patients with PRP positive tumors and may add an endocrine effect to the cytotoxic action of adjuvant chemotherapy in this particular group of older premenopausal women. 

B3. Beex, L. V., Mackenzie, M. A., Raemaekers, J. M., Smals, A. C., Benraad, T. J., and Klop-penboig, P. W., Adjuvant chemotherapy in premenopausal patients with primary breast cancer, relation to drug-induced amenorrhoea, age and the progesterone receptor status of the tumour. Eur. J. Cancer Clin. Oncol. 24(4), 719-721 (1988). 

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