Evaluation of menopause and treatment choice of breast cancer patients before endocrine therapy / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) directly applies to postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Patients underwent bilateral ovariectomy or ≥60 years were acknowledged as postmenopausal.Alternatively, for <60 years breast cancer patients, sex hormone detection to evaluate menopause is recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline, textbooks, and AIs clinical trials.However, series of clinical trial found that, a broad overlap region of follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol appeared between premenopausal and postmenopausal patients, which unable to determine the menopause even with sensitivity promotion of detection equipment or manners.We have abandon this detection in clinical treatment, and decision making was only according to the relapse risk and disease status. We recommend bilateral ovariectomy resection accompanied with AIs for breast cancer patients with high recurrence risk (e.g. T3-4 or LNM≥4) or patients with advanced metastatic disease.However, patients with low or moderate recurrence risk can be treated with tamoxifen.