The GnRH Agonist Goserelin Seems to Protect Against Ovarian Failure with Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists have promise for preventing ovarian failure caused by cancer chemotherapy because they can prevent follicular maturation and oocyte division. Animal studies have been largely encouraging, but trials in humans have had mixed results. Investigators conducted an international trial in premenopausal women (age range, 18–49) with hormone-receptor–negative early breast cancer to determine whether the addition of the GnRH agonist goserelin to adjuvant cyclophosphamide-containing chemotherapy was effective in preventing ovarian failure (defined as amenorrhea for the preceding 6 months and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the postmenopausal range). Although the study was stopped prematurely becaus…