Middle East Journal of Cancer

Investigating Ovarian Function in Pre-Menopausal Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Afsaneh Kheirmand Parizi 1
Amirreza Nejadheidari 1
Naeem Nikpour 2
Fatemeh Nejadheidari 1

1 Student Research Committee, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/mejc.2026.106922.2276
Abstract
Background: Ovarian function suppression (OFS) plays a vital role in the treatment of premenopausal hormone-positive breast cancer patients. Still, some patients experience incomplete ovarian function suppression. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of incomplete OFS in premenopausal hormone-positive breast cancer patients and identify associated risk factors.
Method:  This cross-sectional study was conducted at Javad Al-Aeme Clinic from January to February 2024.We enrolled premenopausal hormone-positive breast cancer patients aged 18 to 55 who had been treated with a Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) combined with an aromatase inhibitor for at least three months. The relationship between incomplete OFS and variables including age, body mass index (BMI), treatment duration, and type of GnRH agonist was analyzed. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 17.
Results: A total number of 47 patients, with a mean age of 43.36 years (standard deviation (SD: 5.55) and a mean BMI of 26.88 kg/m² (SD: 4.22) participated in this study. Among these patients, 23 (49%) had estradiol levels greater than 20 pg/ml, indicating incomplete OFS. Although no significant relationship was found between the variables and ovarian escape, the odds for ovarian escape were higher in younger patients and those with a higher BMI. Patients treated with goserelin at doses of 3.6 mg and 10.8 mg exhibited similar odds of ovarian escape, both of which were higher than those observed in patients treated with triptorelin 3.75 mg.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of incomplete OFS highlights the importance of monitoring ovarian function in high-risk pre-menopausal hormone-positive breast cancer patients.

Highlights

Naeem Nikpour (google scholar)

Keywords

Breast neoplasm
Aromatase inhibitor
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
Premenopausal
Subjects

Please cite this article as:

Kheirmand Parizi A, Nejadheidari A, Nikpour N, Nejadheidari F. Investigating ovarian function in pre-menopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: A cross-sectional study. Middle East J Cancer. 2026;17(4):364-71. doi:10.30476/mejc.2026.106922.2276.

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