Patients with Lynch syndrome–related endometrial cancer (LS-EC) can safely pursue pregnancy after careful fertility-sparing treatment, with doctors recommending early conception once complete remission is achieved, according to a study published recently in Frontiers in Oncology.
“Patients with LS-EC can be treated with progestin-based fertility-sparing treatment under close monitoring, and pregnancy is recommended as soon as possible after complete remission,” explained this study’s authors.
Using progestin-based therapy under close monitoring can allow some patients to preserve their ability to have children while managing their cancer risk. These recommendations could help balance the desire for a family with the need to control disease and reduce the chances of it returning.
Fertility-sparing treatment is not suitable for everyone but offers hope to patients with early-stage LS-EC who want to have children. Progestin therapy is used to control the cancer, and patients are monitored closely to ensure it remains in remission. Once complete remission is achieved, doctors recommend attempting pregnancy as soon as possible. This urgency helps reduce the window of time during which cancer could return before childbearing is complete.
Read more about the prognosis of EC
Assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization with frozen-thawed embryo transfer, are strongly encouraged for these patients. Assisted reproductive technologies can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, particularly when time is limited by the need for subsequent cancer surgery. Early use of assisted reproductive technologies after remission has been associated with better reproductive outcomes, giving patients the best chance to build their families before needing radical treatment.
Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders also plays a critical role. Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition that significantly increases cancer risk. By using preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders during in vitro fertilization, parents can ensure embryos without pathogenic mismatch repair variants are selected for transfer. This process helps prevent passing Lynch syndrome to future generations, reducing the burden of cancer risk in the family.
After completing childbearing, doctors recommend patients proceed with radical surgery for EC as soon as possible. This step is essential to minimize the chance of cancer returning. Balancing timely surgery with fertility goals requires careful planning and collaboration between oncologists and fertility specialists.
For patients with LS-EC, these strategies offer hope of having children safely while managing cancer risk. By combining close monitoring, prompt pregnancy plans, assisted reproductive technologies, and genetic testing, families may be able to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and prevent passing Lynch syndrome to their children.
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