Dr. Kalinsky on Ovarian Function Suppression and Chemotherapy in HR–Positive Breast Cancer

Kevin Kalinsky, MD, MS, associate professor, the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, director, the Glenn Family Breast Center, Breast Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses the relationship between ovarian function suppression and chemotherapy benefits in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR)–positive breast cancer.

Benefits from chemotherapy have been observed in premenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer who are node negative and high risk, plus those who are node positive with involvement of 1-3 nodes, Kalinsky says. For example, in the phase 3 RxPONDER trial (NCT01272037), patients that had a recurrence score between 0 and 25 all experienced a benefit from chemotherapy, Kalinsky explains. 

However, researchers must still address whether patients will experience the same benefit if they receive ovarian function suppression plus endocrine therapy prior to chemotherapy, or chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy, Kalinsky continues. Further studies could help clarify whether ovarian function suppression has a direct effect or indirect effect in terms of the benefit of the chemotherapy, Kalinsky concludes.