Fertility therapy in the setting of a history of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 1995 Jul;58(1):116-9. doi: 10.1006/gyno.1995.1193.

Abstract

A link between fertility drugs and epithelial ovarian cancer has been suggested by at least one case-control study, and by multiple case reports of such tumors developing following fertility drug therapy. We report the case of a woman with stage IC grade 1 mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer who died of recurrent disease shortly after receiving gonadotropin therapy for ovulation induction. The patient was initially treated with a staging procedure, unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and 3 courses of cytoxan and carboplatinum. Over the next 3 years she underwent 2 cycles of ovulation induction with exogenous gonadotropins. Five months after the second cycle, the patient presented with a bowel obstruction and extensive recurrence of disease. Two months later she died despite extensive surgical debulking, and cis-platinum and Taxol chemotherapy. Although a causal relationship between fertility therapy and ovarian cancer has not been established, this case report suggests ovulation induction may be inadvisable in a woman with a prior diagnosis of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / chemically induced*
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Gonadotropins / adverse effects*
  • Gonadotropins / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / chemically induced*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Ovulation Induction

Substances

  • Gonadotropins