Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that can also lead to fertility problems in women of reproductive age. The effects of different types of chemotherapy on fertility are still unknown, and depend on the type of chemotherapy, dosage, duration and the patient's age. Recent studies have found that anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a valuable marker of fertility. The aim of this study is to find out about the risks to fertility of chemotherapy drugs and the accuracy of AMH in predicting women's fertility following chemotherapy.
Who can participate?
Women aged 18 - 43 who have been newly diagnosed with cancer (e.g., breast cancer or lymphoma).
What does the study involve?
Blood tests are used to assess AMH levels in cancer patients before chemotherapy and at follow up 6, 9 months and 1 year later, compared with healthy volunteers without known fertility problems of the same age. We hope to follow up patients for at least 5 years to assess their fertility following chemotherapy. A medical questionnaire is completed by all participants, giving their views on the information they received during the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may not directly benefit from taking part in the study, but the results could help with decision-making regarding fertility treatment in the future. Risks of participation include the risks of blood tests.
Where is the study run from?
Warwick University (UK).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2010 to November 2011.
Who is funding the study?
Midland Fertility Services Ltd (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Karolina Palinska-Rudzka
K.E.Palinska-Rudzka@warwick.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Karolina Palinska-Rudzka
ORCID ID
Contact details
Centre House
Court Parade Aldridge
Walsall
WS9 8LT
United Kingdom
-
K.E.Palinska-Rudzka@warwick.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
8445
Study information
Scientific title
Effects of chemotherapy upon fertility amongst women of reproductive age, using anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) as a marker of ovarian reserve
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Accurate assessment of reproductive function in women following cancer treatment is increasingly important due to improvements in survival rates and development of new methods of fertility preservation.
Advance counselling regarding chemotherapy's potential to affect future plans for children, premature menopause and offering options for fertility preservation should be a vital, integrated part of care for young women.
Chemotherapy may lead to subfertility and loss of sex hormone production. The effects of different types of chemotherapy on ovarian reserve amongst women of reproductive age are still unknown. Chemotherapy-induced follicle loss is also dependent on the type of chemotherapy, its dosage, duration and age of patient.
Recent studies show that anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a valuable marker of ovarian reserve. It is independent of the menstrual cycle and can be accurate and diagnostic even amongst women without regular cycles.
We propose a prospective study to evaluate the risks to fertility of chemotherapeutic regimes and the accuracy of AMH in predicting women's potential reproductive capacity following chemotherapy. The results would be crucial in informing decision-makers and stakeholders regarding fertility treatment prognosis.
Using a prospective cohort design allows us to assess the effect of chemotherapy agents. Although the assays and analysis of AMH will be performed over a shorter period, we hope to followup patients for at least 5 years to begin to assess their post-chemotherapy fertility.
We will recruit 50 to 100 reproductive age women newly diagnosed with cancers, needing chemotherapy within the Cancer Network in West Midlands.
Serum AMH will be measured in patients before commencing chemotherapy and with follow up at 6, 9 months and 1 year compared with an age-matched control group without known fertility problems. 5 year follow-up will be performed.The sponsor of the study is Warwick University, a funder is MFS.
On 30/09/2015 the overall trial end date was changed from 26/11/2011 to 01/12/2016.
Ethics approval
Coventry and Warwickshire REC, November 2009, ref: 09/H1211/87
Study design
Multicentre observational cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cohort study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Topic: National Cancer Research Network, Reproductive Health; Subtopic: All Cancers/Misc Sites; Disease: Miscellaneous
Intervention
1. Medical questionnaire, including questions regarding menstrual cycles, past medical history, desire to have children etc.
2. Venepuncture: serum AMH will be measured in patients before commencing chemotherapy and with follow up at 6, 9 months and 1 year compared with an age-matched control group
Study entry: other; patients are recruited at oncology/haematology clinics, or by contacting Midland Fertility Services.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
To assess the impact of different types, doses and duration of chemotherapy on ovarian reserve using AMH, measured at 6, 9, 12 and 60 months
Secondary outcome measures
To assess the accuracy of serum AMH testing in predicting future reproductive capacity, measured at 60 months
Overall trial start date
26/05/2010
Overall trial end date
01/12/2016
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Women aged 18 - 43 years
2. Newly diagnosed cancer - mainly with breast cancer and lymphoma
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
Planned sample size: 100; UK sample size: 100
Participant exclusion criteria
1. A history of previous exposure to gonadotoxic agents and/or radiotherapy
2. Diagnosed with end stage cancer having a very poor prognosis (less than 10% chances of 1 year survival)
3. Significant ovarian pathology or previous bilateral oophrectomy
Recruitment start date
26/05/2010
Recruitment end date
26/11/2011
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Centre House
Walsall
WS9 8LT
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Warwick (UK)
Sponsor details
c/o Geraldine Hartshorne
Clinical Sciences Research Institute
Warwick Medical School
Coventry
CV2 2DX
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Midland Fertility Services Ltd (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
To be confirmed at a later date
Intention to publish date
01/01/2017
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary