Assisted reproduction and risk of cancer recurrence

In women with a history of cancer does the use of assisted reproduction technologies increase the likelihood of cancer recurrence?

There are now several studies evaluating the risk of breast cancer recurrence after fertility treatment. Goldrat et al evaluated the impact of subsequent pregnancy on recurrence risk in 198 women in a multicentre study with an average follow up of 8-9 years from cancer diagnosis and 4.5-5 years from pregnancy and found no difference in recurrence rate between women who conceived spontaneously and those who conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART), regardless of hormone receptor status.^[1] Larger studies are needed to confirm this observation.

Three retrospective cohort studies have looked at the impact of ART on women treated for borderline ovarian tumours. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Denschlag et al concluded that it was unclear if ART use was associated with an increased risk of recurrence.^[2] In a small study of 43 patients, seven patients received IVF; two of whom developed a recurrence after IVF and two before IVF.^[3] In another study of 17 women who received fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors, four experienced recurrences of BOTs after IVF and birth.^[4]

Similarly, a small number of studies have looked at the impact of IVF following treatment for endometrial cancer. In one study 6 out of 22 women experienced a relapse following IVF treatment,^[5] while in another study of 10 patients there was no evidence of recurrence.^[6] The largest study of 36 patients found that there was no significant increase in recurrence for the 26 women who received infertility treatment in order to conceive.^[7]