Chemo- and Radiotherapy of Gastrointestinal Tumors during Pregnancy

Gastrointestinal cancers account for approximately one-fourth of all cancer cases and one-third of all tumor-related deaths worldwide. For the most frequent gastrointestinal tumor entities including colorectal, gastric, esophageal, and liver cancer, the incidence is expected to increase by more than 50% until 2040. While most gastrointestinal cancers are diagnosed beyond the age of fertility and predominantly in men, the increasing incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies in patients below the age of fifty suggests a growing importance in women of childbearing age. While localized cancers in pregnant women can either be monitored or treated surgically, more advanced stages might require radio- or chemotherapy to control tumor growth until delivery. Under these circumstances, critical decisions have to be made to preserve maternal health on the one side and minimize harm to the infant on the other side.

Here we summarize data from case reports, meta-analyses, and registries of women undergoing radio- or chemotherapy during pregnancy and provide guidance for therapeutic decision-making in pregnant women suffering from gastrointestinal cancers.

After the first trimester, most chemotherapeutic regimens can be safely administered to pregnant patients with gastrointestinal cancers. With appropriate safety measures, both radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy can be applied to pregnant patients with rectal cancers.