Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research (Jun 2024)

Fertility and Pregnancy-Related Issues in Young Carriers With Breast Cancer

  • Isotta Martha Magaton,
  • Luca Arecco,
  • Elene Mariamidze,
  • Kristina Jankovic,
  • Mihaela Stana,
  • Giulia Buzzatti,
  • Lucia Trevisan,
  • Graziana Scavone,
  • Silvia Ottonello,
  • Piero Fregatti,
  • Claudia Massarotti,
  • Michael von Wolff,
  • Matteo Lambertini

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/11782234241261429
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18

Abstract

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Approximately 10% to 15% of breast cancer cases in young women are diagnosed in patients harbouring germline (g) pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs) in the BReast CAncer 1 ( BRCA1 ) or BReast CAncer 2 ( BRCA2 ) genes. Preclinical and clinical studies showed a potential negative effect of germline BRCA 1/2 (g BRCA1/2 ) PVs on ovarian reserve and reproductive potential, even before starting anticancer therapies. The aim of this article is to summarize the current literature on the fertility potential of young g BRCA1/2 PVs carriers with breast cancer and the risk of gonadotoxicity associated with anticancer treatments. Moreover, we describe the available evidence on the efficacy of fertility preservation techniques in young g BRCA1/2 PVs carriers and the safety data on having a pregnancy after breast cancer treatment.