Background:
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in women, and its
treatment has a high probability of loss of fertility. Oocyte vitrification is the most commonly used
technique to preserve fertility before starting oncological treatment. Aromatase inhibitors induce hypoestrogenemia
while promoting the release of gonadotropins and constitute an alternative drug for
ovarian stimulation in patients with breast cancer.
Objective:
In this mini-review, we update and describe the current status of aromatase inhibitor use in
controlled ovarian stimulation for oocyte vitrification in patients with breast cancer.
Results:
Aromatase inhibitors are commonly used in combination with gonadotropins for ovarian
stimulation in patients with breast cancer who preserve their fertility through oocyte vitrification. They
achieve similar ovarian responses as conventional ovarian stimulation protocols in regards to the
number of oocytes, and no additional complications after their use have been reported. Furthermore,
aromatase inhibitors seem to be safe not only for offspring, as no more congenital defects occur in
newborns from pregnancies achieved after their use, but also for the patients, as no more malignancy
recurrence or increased mortality was found in cohort studies.
Conclusion:
Aromatase inhibitors are elective drugs for ovarian stimulation in patients with breast
cancer who decide to preserve their fertility through oocyte vitrification.
Treatment of breast cancer with aromatase inhibitors – current status and future prospects
