Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-cphqk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-06T01:04:20.208Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fertility drugs and cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

AJ Venn  and
DL Healy
AJ Venn*
Affiliation:
Centre for the Study of Mothers' & Children's Health, La Trobe University, 463 Cardigan St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
DL Healy
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
*
Centre for the Study of Mothers' & Children's Health, La Trobe University, 463 Cardigan St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Tel.: +61-3-93481095, Fax: +61-3-93481129, e-mail [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The short-term risks of fertility drug treatment, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, are well recognised by clinicians providing infertility treatment. There is uncertainty, however, about whether there are any longterm risks such as an increased risk of breast or gynaecological cancer. The possibility of such long-term risks is sometimes a concern for couples who are considering or receiving infertility treatment and their concerns need to be discussed using the best available evidence. The need for appropriate evaluation of long-term health effects of treatment with fertility drugs, including cancer, has been highlighted in major reviews of infertility treatments in Australia and Canada.

Type
Research Article
Information
Reproductive Medicine Review , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , October 1997 , pp. 185 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1McClure, N, Healy, D. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Lancet 1991; 338: 1111–2.Google Scholar
2Schenker, J, Ezra, Y. Complications of assisted reproductive techniques. Fertil Steril 1994; 61: 411–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3National Health and Medical Research Council. Long term effects on women of assisted conception. Canberra: NHMRC, 1995.Google Scholar
4Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Proceed with Care: Final Report of the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Canada: Minister of Government Services, 1993.Google Scholar
5Guyatt, G, Sackett, D, Sinclair, J, Hayward, R, Cook, D, Cook, R. Users' guides to the medical literature. IX. A method for grading health care recommendations. JAMA 1995; 274: 1800–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Atlas, M, Menczer, J. Massive hyperStimulation and borderline carcinoma of the ovary. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1982; 61: 261–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Bandera, C, Cramer, D, Friedman, A, Sheets, E. Fertility therapy in the setting of a history of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 1995; 58: 116–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Banford, P, Steele, S. Uterine and ovarian carcinoma in a patient receiving gonadotropin therapy. Case-report. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1982; 89: 962–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Ben-Hur, H, Dgani, R, Lancet, M, Katz, Z, Nissim, F, Roserman, D. Ovarian carcinoma masquerading as ovarian hyperStimulation syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1986; 65: 813–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Bolton, P. Bilateral breast cancer associated with clomiphene. Lancet 1977; 2: 1176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Carter, M, Joyce, D. Ovarian carcinoma in a patient hyperstimulated by gonadotropin therapy for in vitro fertilization: a case report. J In Vitro Fertil Embryo Transf 1987; 4: 126–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Goldberg, G, Runowicz, C. Ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential, infertility and induction of ovulation: is there a link. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992; 166: 853–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Karlan, B, Marrs, R, Lagasse, L. Advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma presenting during infertility evaluation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994; 171: 1377–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Komatsu, T, Konishi, I, Mandai, M et al. Peritoneal papillary serous carcinoma arising in an infertile woman during ovulation-induction therapy: immunohistochemical expression of LH/hCG receptors. Gynecol Oncol 1995; 56: 470–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15Kulkarni, R, McGarry, J. Follicular stimulation and ovarian cancer [letter]. BMJ 1989; 299: 740.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Laing, R, Glaser, M, Barrett, G. A case of breast carcinoma in association with in vitro fertilization. J Royal Soc Med 1989; 82: 503.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Lopes, P, Mensier, A. Cancer de l'ovaire apres procreation medicalement assistee. La Presse Medicale 1992; 21: 677.Google Scholar
18Lopes, P, Mensier, A. Ovarian cancer and assisted reproductive technology [editiorial]. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1993; 51: 171–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Waterstone, J, Parsons, J. Endometrial stromal sarcoma two years after a successful in vitro fertilization treatment cycle. Hum Reprod 1992; 7: 72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20Hull, M, Kriner, M, Schneider, E, Maiman, M. Ovarian cancer after successful ovulation induction. J Reprod Med 1996; 41: 52–4.Google ScholarPubMed
21Grimbizis, G, Tarlatzis, B, Bontis, J et al. Two cases of ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovarian stimulation attempts. Hum Reprod 1995; 10: 520–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Willemsen, W, Kruitwagen, R, Bastiaans, B, Hanselaar, T, Rolland, R. Ovarian stimulation and granulosa-cell tumour. Lancet 1993; 341: 986–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Unkila-Kallio, L, Leminen, A, Tiitinen, A, Lehtovirta, P, Wahlstrom, T, Ylikorkala, O. Malignant tumors of the ovary or the breast in association with infertility: a report of thirteen cases. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1997; 76: 177–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Rossing, M, Daling, J, Weiss, N, Moore, D, Self, S. Ovarian tumors in a cohort of infertile women. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 771–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25Shushan, A, Paltiel, O, Iscovich, J, Elchalal, U, Peretz, T, Schenker, J. Human menopausal gonadotropin and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Fertil Steril 1996; 65: 13–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Mosgaard, B, Lidegaard, O, Kjaer, S, Schou, G, Andersen, A. Infertility, fertility drugs, and invasive ovarian cancer: a case-control study. Fertil Steril 1997; 67: 1005–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27Venn, A, Watson, L, Lumley, J, Giles, G, King, C, Healy, D. Breast and ovarian cancer incidence after infertility and in vitro fertilisation. Lancet 1995; 346: 995–1000.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Williams, E, Jones, L, Vessey, M, McPherson, K. Short term increase in risk of breast cancer associated with full term pregnancy. BMJ 1990; 300: 578–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Lambe, M, Hsieh, C, Trichopoulos, D, Ekbom, A, Pavia, M, Adami, H. Transient increase in the risk of breast cancer after giving birth. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 5–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30Kroman, N, Wohlfahrt, J, Andersen, K, Mouridsen, H, Westegaard, T, Melbye, M. Time since childbirth and prognosis in primary breast cancer: a population based study. BMJ 1997; 315: 851–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31Kelsey, J, Bemstein, L. Epidemiology and prevention of breast cancer. Annu Rev Public Health 1996; 17: 47–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32Harris, R, Whittemore, A, Itnyre, J, and the Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group. Characteristics relating to ovarian cancer risk: collaborative analysis of 12 US case-control studies. III. Epithelial tumors of low malignant potential. Am J Epidemiol 1992; 136: 1204–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33Whittemore, A, Harris, R, Itnyre, J, and the Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group. Characteristics relating to ovarian cancer risk: collaborative analysis of 12 US case-control studies. II. Invasive epithelial ovarian cancers in white women. Am J Epidemiol 1992; 136: 1184–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34Parazzini, F, Franceschi, S, La Vecchia, C, Fasoli, M. The epidemiology of ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 1991; 43: 9–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35Parazzini, F, La Vecchia, C, Bocciolone, L, Franceschi, S. The epidemiology of endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol 1991; 41: 1–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36Mosgaard, B, Lidegaard, O, Andersen, A. The impact of parity, infertility and treatment with fertility drugs on the risk of ovarian cancer. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1997; 76: 89–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37Brinton, L, Melton, J, Malkasian, G, Bond, A, Hoover, R. Cancer risk after evaluation for infertility. Am J Epidemiol 1989; 129: 712–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38Cowan, L, Gordis, L, Tonascia, J, Jones, G. Breast cancer incidence in women with a history of progesterone deficiency. Am J Epidemiol 1981; 114: 209–17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39Gammon, M, Thompson, W. Infertility and breast cancer: a population-based case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 1990; 132: 708–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40Gammon, M, Thompson, W. Polycystic ovaries and the risk of breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1991; 134: 818–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41Ron, E, Lunenfeld, B, Menczer, J et al. Cancer incidence in a cohort of infertile women. Am J Epidemiol 1987; 125: 780–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42de Waart, F. Uterine corpus. In: Schottenfeld, D, Fraumeni, J (eds) Cancer epidemiology and prevention. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1982: 901–8.Google Scholar
43Anderson, K, Sellers, T, Chen, P-L, Rich, S, Hong, C-P, Folsom, A. Association of Stein-Leventhal syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa. Cancer 1997; 79: 494–9.3.0.CO;2-Z>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
44Parazzini, F, La Vecchia, C, Franceschi, S, Talamini, R, Negri, E, Crosignani, P. Association of Stein-Leventhal Syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa [letter]. Cancer 1997; 80: 1360–2.3.3.CO;2-X>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
45Brinton, L, Gridley, G, Persson, I, Baron, J, Bergqvist, A. Cancer risk after a hospital dicharge diagnosis of endometriosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 176: 572–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
46Paulson, R. Fertility drugs and ovarian epithelial cancer: the endometriosis hypothesis. J Assist Reprod Genet 1997; 14: 228–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
47Fathalla, M. Incessant ovulation – a factor in ovarian neoplasia? Lancet 1971; 2: 163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
48Fathalla, M. Factors in the causation and incidence of ovarian cancer. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1972; 27: 751–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
49Lancaster, P, Shafir, E, Hurst, T, Huang, J. Assisted conception Australia and New Zealand 1994 and 1995. (Assisted Conception Series; no.2.) Sydney: AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit, 1997.Google Scholar
50Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Breast cancer and hormonal contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 53,297 women with breast cancer and 100,239 women without breast cancer from 54 epidemiological studies. Lancet 1996; 347: 1713–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52,705 women with breast cancer and 108,411 women without breast cancer. Lancet 1997; 350: 1047–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
52Mant, J, Vessey, M. Ovarian and endometrial cancers. Cancer Surv 1994; 19: 287–307.Google ScholarPubMed
53Derby, C, Hume, A, Barbour, M, McPhilips, J, Lasater, T, Carleton, R. Correlates of postmenopausal estrogen use and trends through the 1980s in two southeastern New England communities. Am J Epidemiol 1993; 137: 1125–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
54MacLennan, A, Taylor, A, Wilson, D. Changes in the use of hormone replacement therapy in South Australia. Med J Aust 1995; 162: 420–2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55Irwin, K, Weiss, N, Lee, N, Peterson, H. Tubal sterilization, hysterectomy, and the subsequent occurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1991; 134: 362–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
56Hankinson, S, Hunter, D, Colditz, G et al. Tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and risk of ovarian cancer. JAMA 1993; 270: 2813–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
57Webb, S, Holman, D. A survey of infertility, surgical sterility and associated reproductive disability in Perth, Western Australia. Aust J Public Health 1992; 16: 376–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
58Schmidt, L, Munster, K, Helm, P. Infertility and the seeking of infertility treatment in a representative population. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102: 978–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
59Franceschi, S, La Vecchia, C, Negri, E et al. Fertility drugs and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in Italy. Hum Reprod 1994; 9: 1673–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
60La Vecchia, C, Negri, E, Parazzini, F, Franceschi, S. Fertility drugs and breast and ovarian cancer [letter]. Lancet 1995; 346: 1628.Google ScholarPubMed
61Venn, A, Watson, L, Lumley, J, Giles, G, King, C, Healy, D. Fertility drugs and breast and ovarian cancer [letter]. Lancet 1995; 346: 1627–8.Google ScholarPubMed
62Rossing, M, Daling, J, Weiss, N, Moore, D, Self, S. Risk of breast cancer in a cohort of infertile women. Gynecol Oncol 1996; 60: 3–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
63Braga, C, Negri, E, La Vecchia, C, Parazzini, F, Dal, maso L, Franceschi, S. Fertility treatment and the risk of breast cancer. Hum Reprod 1996; 11: 300–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
64Rossing, M, Daling, J, Weiss, N, Moore, D, Self, S. In situ and invasive cervical carcinoma in a cohort of infertile women. Fertil Steril 1996; 65: 19–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
65Rossing, M, Daling, J, Weiss, N, Moore, D, Self, S. Risk of cutaneous melanoma in a cohort of infertile women. Melanoma Res 1995; 5: 123–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
66St Clair, Stephenson P. The risks associated with ovulation induction. Iatrogenics 1990; 1: 7–16.Google Scholar
67Bristow, R, Karlan, B. The risk of ovarian cancer after treatment for infertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 1996; 8: 32–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
68Bristow, R, Karlan, B. Ovulation induction, infertility, and ovarian cancer risk. Fertil Steril 1996; 66: 499–507.Google ScholarPubMed
69Shoham, Z. Epidemiology, etiology, and fertility drugs in ovarian epithelial carcinoma: where are we today. Fertil Steril 1994; 62: 433–48.Google ScholarPubMed
70Spirtas, R, Kaufman, S, Alexander, N. Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer: red alert or red herring. Fertil Steril 1993; 59: 291–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
71Artini, P, Fasciani, A, Cela, V et al. Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer. Gynecol Endocrinol 1997; 11: 59–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
72Paulson, R. Fertility drugs and ovarian epithelial cancer: is there a link? (News and Views). J Assist Reprod Genet 1996; 13: 751–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
73Rosen, B, Irvine, J, Ritvo, P et al. The feasibility of assessing women's perceptions of the risks and benefits of fertility drug therapy in relation to ovarian cancer risk. Fertil Steril 1997; 68: 90–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed