Serum anti-müllerian hormone levels in evaluation of chemotherapy effect on ovarian reserve in women with breast cancer. A follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of serum anti müllerian hormone (AMH) pre-chemotherapy treatment levels in prediction of post-chemotherapy effect on the ovarian reserve of women with breast cancer.

METHODS: This cohort prospective study was carried out at the Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad and at the Oncology Clinic, Oncology Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. It included 58 women with regular menstrual cycle (25-45 years) who were  newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The women were classified into 3 groups: GI: 30 women with breast cancer before starting chemotherapy, GII: the same 30 women of GI who finished 4 cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy (course 1) and GIII: which involved another 28 women who had finished both courses of chemotherapy, (course 1) and (course 2).

RESULTS: The mean (±SEM) value of AMH levels was significantly decreased in GII and GIII when compared with GI (for both, p less than 0.0005). However, there was no significant difference in serum AMH levels between GII and GIII.

CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum AMH may be a useful biochemical marker of the chemotherapy extent induced ovarian reserve damage and the incidence of amenorrhea.