CHICAGO – Adding the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist goserelin (Zoladex) to adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy boosted fertility prospects in premenopausal women with early-stage hormone-receptor–negative breast cancer.
Not only did goserelin reduce by 70% the risk of ovarian failure, a common consequence of chemotherapy, but the monthly injections also offered an intriguing boost in disease-free and overall survival.
Lead author of the intergroup POEMS (Prevention of Early Menopause Study) Dr. Halle Moore of the Cleveland Clinic spoke with us about the late-breaking trial at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Click here to hear more about these practice-changing results.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Moore reported no disclosures; three coauthors have financial ties with AstraZeneca, the maker of goserelin.
Correction 5/31/14: An earlier version of this article carried a headline that misstated the cancer type.