Dr. Halle Moore Discusses Results of the Phase III POEMS Study in Breast Cancer

Halle Moore, MD, medical oncologist, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the results of the phase III POEMS study, which was presented at the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting.

This study looked at whether suppressing ovarian function during adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy could reduce the risk for long term ovarian failure in premenopausal women with ER-negative breast cancer. Patients were randomized to receive standard cyclophosphamide-containing chemotherapy with or without monthly goserelin.

Results showed a significant reduction (about 70%) in the ovarian failure rate observed in the group treated with goserelin. Further, at 2 years, women who received goserelin had better preserved ovarian function.

There was a higher rate of achieving pregnancy and having successful births among women who received goserelin, Moore says. There was no evidence that goserelin increased the risk of miscarriage, need for elective termination, or other adverse pregnancy events.