Prof Robert Leonard

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Cancer Services and Clinical Haematology
Charing Cross Hospital
London

Preserving fertility in breast cancer patients

Professor Robert Leonard is researching ways to preserve the fertility of women who are given chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer.

Chemotherapy drugs can sometimes damage the ovaries of women who have not been through the menopause. Professor Leonard is carrying out a national clinical trial to find out if treating women with a type of hormone therapy before their chemotherapy can prevent this damage.

Nearly eight out of ten pre-menopausal breast cancer patients who receive chemotherapy experience some form of fertility problems. This is a major concern for young women who, not only have to cope with breast cancer, but also face the prospect of an early menopause. As well as becoming infertile, they may also be at risk of developing early osteoporosis.

Professor Leonard and his team are carrying out the OPTION trial testing the effectiveness of a drug called goserelin (Zoladex) that temporarily stops the ovaries working. They hope that giving goserelin before chemotherapy will protect the ovaries during treatment.

Two hundred and fifty women nationwide are currently being recruited for this trial. Half will receive chemotherapy alone and half will be given goserelin prior to standard chemotherapy. The women's fertility and bone density will be monitored for five years after treatment to check for any side effects.

This study has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for women with breast cancer. Importantly, the use of goserelin before chemotherapy may allow younger breast cancer patients to still have families once they have finished treatment.

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