An eight centre, retrospective, clinical practice data analysis of algorithm-based treatment with follitropin delta.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can efficacy and success rates of the first recombinant FSH expressed in a human cell line with an individualized dosing algorithm based on body weight and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as shown in the ESTHER-1 trial be confirmed in routine clinical practice? DESIGN: In eight reproductive medicine centres in Germany, observational data of 360 women who underwent ovarian stimulation with follitropin delta were evaluated as part of the quality control from January 2018 to June 2019. The data were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 33.5 (±3.8) years. Pretreatment AMH concentrations ranged from <0.5 ng/ml or 3.6 pmol/l (2.5%) to >5.6 ng/ml or 40 pmol/l (19.7%), with 79.7% of all AMH measurements above 2.0 ng/ml or 14.5 pmol/l. The mean number of oocytes obtained in n = 359 first follitropin delta cycles was 11.2 (±6.7) oocytes with 42.1% of patients having between eight and 14 oocytes retrieved at oocyte retrieval. The average clinical pregnancy rate in the first cycle with a fresh embryo transfer was 38.2% with a mean of 1.4 embryos per transfer. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 49.4% for the first stimulation cycle (including cryopreservation cycles generated from the first stimulation cycle). CONCLUSION: The goal of obtaining an adequate number of oocytes (8-14 oocytes) using the follitropin delta dosing algorithm was reached in 42.1% of patients despite a wide range of pretreatment AMH values, while achieving very good clinical pregnancy rates. Hence, algorithm-based ovarian stimulation with follitropin delta remains highly effective in clinical practice.

[Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome]. / Die Insulinresistenz beim polyzystischen Ovar-Syndrom.

With a prevalence of 5-10% the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder of premenopausal women. According to prospective studies abnormal glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus present in about 10.0% and 35.0% of adult women with PCOS, respectively. PCOS patients have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia. The rate of spontaneous abortions as well as the risk of developing gestational diabetes is increased in PCOS. Therefore, PCOS is not only a reproductive problem, but a complex endocrine disease with important health implications. The role of glucose metabolism in PCOS, the health consequences and possible interventions are reviewed in this article.

Re-Challenging Taxanes in Recurrent Breast Cancer in Patients Treated with (Neo-)Adjuvant Taxane-Based Therapy.

SUMMARY: Background: Docetaxel and paclitaxel are among the most active substances for the treatment of breast cancer. As both drugs are used today in adjuvant regimens, efficacy data from pivotal trials in the metastatic setting in taxane-naive populations cannot reliably be used as references. Patients and Methods: The Taxane Re-Challenge Cohort Study identified participants from 6 prospective (neo-)adjuvant taxane-based studies with recurrent disease and collected data on their subsequent treatment. Out of 381 recurrent patients, 106 (27.8%) were re-challenged with a taxane-based treatment as first- or later-line therapy for recurrent disease. Results: Taxanes were used as first-line therapy in 74 patients and showed a response rate of 48.6% (including complete responses in 27.0%). The response rate was dependent on the disease-free interval (<1 year: 34.8%; 1-2 years: 42.9%; >2 years: 63.3%; p = 0.04) and visceral metastasis (present: 62.5%; not present 32.4%; p = 0.01). Patients without visceral metastasis and with a disease-free interval of >2 years achieved the longest overall survival. Hormone and HER2 receptor status were not predictive; however, triple-negative tumors responded in 50.0%. The overall response rate of later-line taxane-based treatment was 28.2%. Conclusion: Re-challenging taxanes appears to be effective and therefore represents a reasonable option in this population.

Treatment strategies in PCOS patients.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with a prevalence of up to 7%, is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. It is a complex metabolic-endocrine disorder with severe long-term health consequences, such as a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. According to prospective studies, women with PCOS have abnormal glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in 31.0-35.0% and 7.5-10.0% respectively. This risk is 2-3 times higher than normal. Insulin resistance plays a key role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome, and this makes the use of oral antidiabetic drugs most compelling. The majority of studies have shown amelioration of typical symptoms such as hyperandrogenism and cycle irregularities following the use of oral anti-diabetics, and ovulation and pregnancy rates increased. Furthermore, these drugs might be cardioprotective by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes. The best-investigated drug is metformin. Metformin is not approved for PCOS treatment in Germany and is a class B drug in pregnancy. In sterile PCOS patients, clomiphene citrate is still the first choice. The combination of clomiphene with metformin and lifestyle changes such as weight reduction and exercise might be superior to clomiphene alone. This article covers the use of different oral anti-diabetic drugs in the treatment of PCOS, and their influence on fertility and long-term health.

Insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

With a prevalence of 5%-10% the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an exceptionally common disorder of premenopausal women. According to prospective studies, women with PCOS present abnormal glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in 31%-35% and 7.5%-10%, respectively. PCOS patients have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia. The rate of spontaneous abortions as well as the risk to develop gestational or type 2 diabetes is increased in PCOS. Therefore, PCOS is not only a reproductive problem but a complex endocrine disease with important health implications. The role of the glucose metabolism in PCOS, the health consequences and possible interventions are reviewed in this article.