Measuring ovarian function in young cancer survivors

Area of Science:

• Reproductive endocrinology and oncology
• Fertility preservation in cancer patients
• Biomarker development for ovarian reserve assessment

Background:

• Young female cancer survivors face increased risks of infertility and early menopause.
• Individualized risk factors necessitate reliable tools for predicting reproductive function.
• Ovarian reserve tests (ORT) are crucial for assessing ovarian aging and predicting fertility outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the translation and application of ORT in young female cancer patients.
• To identify the most sensitive ORT biomarkers affected by cancer treatments.
• To highlight knowledge gaps and future research directions for ORT in this population.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on ORT in young cancer patients.
• Analysis of various ORT biomarkers including serum hormones and ultrasound measures.
• Synthesis of data on the impact of gonadotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal agents, and surgery on ORT.

Main Results:

• Gonadotoxic chemotherapy significantly impacts ORT, with FSH, AMH, and AFC showing the most sensitivity.
• ORT correlate with amenorrhea in cancer survivors.
• Even survivors with normal menses show reduced ovarian reserve compared to age-matched controls.

Conclusions:

• ORT show promise in assessing ovarian reserve in young cancer survivors, but further research is needed.
• Large-scale studies are required to validate ORT as predictors of fertility and ovarian failure.
• Future research should focus on establishing optimal ORT protocols and predictive capabilities for this population.