Hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle in women with breast cancer: effect of adjuvant chemotherapy.

The hormonal features of the menstrual cycle determined by measurement of serum LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone and prolactin were normal in thirteen breast cancer patients clinically disease free and not taking anti-tumour therapy. Results of similar studies during seven menstrual cycles in four patients on an adjuvant therapy programme of L-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM) + 5-flurouracil (5-FU) also had normal hormonal characteristics after three to fourteen courses of chemotherapy. Amenorrhoea with elevated gonadotrophins occurred after seven courses of chemotherapy in one 48-year-old woman. Adjuvant chemotherapy does not appear to result in major alterations in hormone secretion during menstrual cycles of women who continue to menstruate while on therapy.