leuprolide and Thymoma

Recent success in polychemotherapy (PCT) in adolescent female cancer patients has become a source of concern for specialists who also strive to preserve fertility. We studied whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs could prevent the early onset of ovarian insufficiency postchemotherapy and protect fertility.. The patients were divided into three groups: Control group 1 (Group A), premenarchal patients aged 3 to 7.5 years (n = 5), were not given GnRH analogs administered prior to PCT. Postmenarchal patients (Group B), aged 14.7 to 20 years (n = 12) with normal menstrual rhythm and ovulatory cycles, received treatment with GnRH analogs prior to PCT. Control group 2 (Group C), postmenarchal patients aged 15.9 to 20 years (n = 4), received PCT but no GnRH analog protection. All groups received the PCT regimens CAVPE, CVPP, ABVD, TAMO, ARA-C, and MTT. In group B, leuprolide acetate inhibition was obtained with a depot injection administered each month before and during treatment with PCT. To accelerate the timing of ovarian regression, a subcutaneous injection (0.2 mg) was administered simultaneously.. In Group A, patients had spontaneous menarche between the ages of 12 and 17.9 years, followed by normal menstruation and ovulatory cycles. Three patients became pregnant. After GnRH analog withdrawal, Group B patients continued with normal ovulatory cycles. Two patients became pregnant. Group C patients presented hypergonadotrophic hypoestrogenic amenorrhea.. GnRH analog treatment before and during PCT enhances ovarian function and preserves adolescent fertility. The results must be confirmed in a larger study.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fertility; Fertility Agents, Female; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Infertility; Leuprolide; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Menstrual Cycle; Ovary; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Pregnancy; Thymoma

A case of prostatic cancer treated with an LH-RH analogue depo-preparation was found to have a mediastinal thymoma which was later removed by surgery. The association of thymoma and prostatic cancer has not been documented in the world literature, and it remains to be elucidated whether the occurrence of the both tumors is a coincidence or etiologically inter-related.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Delayed-Action Preparations; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Leuprolide; Male; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Prostatic Neoplasms; Remission Induction; Thymoma; Thymus Neoplasms