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Cancers Apr 2022Endometrial cancer (EC) rarely develops in young women. Most cases are associated with known risk factors: BMI > 30, history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOs), and... (Review)
Review
Endometrial cancer (EC) rarely develops in young women. Most cases are associated with known risk factors: BMI > 30, history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOs), and race differentiation. The molecular EC classification based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network divides these heterogeneous cancers into four types: Polymerase Epsilon Mutation (POLE), Microsatellite Instability (MSI), Copy Number Low (CNL), and Copy Number High (CNH). This division was introduced to allow for early assessment of neoplastic changes and clinical management, including targeted therapies. The basic technique for imaging endometrium changes is transvaginal sonography. Hysteroscopy is the standard for obtaining endometrial material for histological evaluation. The MRI result permits assessment of the extent of EC cancer infiltration. In young women who want to preserve fertility, apart from surgery, conservative management is often implemented after strict selection based on clinical and pathological data. This pharmacological treatment involves the administration of progestogens MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and MA (megestrol acetate). The use of metformin may increase the effectiveness of such treatment. An alternative option is to apply progestogens locally—via the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. In addition to pharmacological treatment, hysteroscopic resection may be used—part of the uterine muscle adjacent to the pathologically changed endometrium may also undergo resection. An alternative is the administration of estrogen receptor modulators (e.g., SERMs) or aromatase inhibitors, or GnRH agonists.
PubMed: 35454829
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081922 -
Steroids Nov 2022Quantification of serum progestin levels in clinical contraceptive studies is now routinely performed to understand progestin pharmacokinetics and to correct for... (Review)
Review
Quantification of serum progestin levels in clinical contraceptive studies is now routinely performed to understand progestin pharmacokinetics and to correct for unreliable self-reporting of contraceptive use by study participants. Many such studies are focussed on the three-monthly progestin-only intramuscular (IM) injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM). Methods commonly used to measure serum MPA levels include liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA); however, RIA methods have not been used in recent years. We review the available literature and find that these methods vary widely in terms of use of organic solvent extraction, use of derivitization and choice of organic solvent and chromatography columns. There is a lack of standardization of LC/MS methodology, including a lack of detailed extraction protocols. Limited evidence suggests that RIA, without organic solvent extraction, likely over-estimates progestin levels. Maximum MPA concentrations in the first two weeks post-injection show wide inter-individual and inter-study variation, regardless of quantification method used. Standardization of quantification methods and sampling time post-injection is required to improve interpretation of clinical data, in particular the side effects arising at different times depending on the pharmacokinetic profile unique to injectable contraceptives.
Topics: Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Female; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Progestins; Radioimmunoassay; Solvents
PubMed: 35964796
DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109100 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jan 2019To assess the association between risk of venous thromboembolism and use of different types of hormone replacement therapy. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between risk of venous thromboembolism and use of different types of hormone replacement therapy.
DESIGN
Two nested case-control studies.
SETTING
UK general practices contributing to the QResearch or Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) databases, and linked to hospital, mortality, and social deprivation data.
PARTICIPANTS
80 396 women aged 40-79 with a primary diagnosis of venous thromboembolism between 1998 and 2017, matched by age, general practice, and index date to 391 494 female controls.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Venous thromboembolism recorded on general practice, mortality, or hospital records. Odds ratios were adjusted for demographics, smoking status, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, recent medical events, and other prescribed drugs.
RESULTS
Overall, 5795 (7.2%) women who had venous thromboembolism and 21 670 (5.5%) controls had been exposed to hormone replacement therapy within 90 days before the index date. Of these two groups, 4915 (85%)and 16 938 (78%) women used oral therapy, respectively, which was associated with a significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared with no exposure (adjusted odds ratio 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 1.64), for both oestrogen only preparations (1.40, 1.32 to 1.48) and combined preparations (1.73, 1.65 to 1.81). Estradiol had a lower risk than conjugated equine oestrogen for oestrogen only preparations (0.85, 0.76 to 0.95) and combined preparations (0.83, 0.76 to 0.91). Compared with no exposure, conjugated equine oestrogen with medroxyprogesterone acetate had the highest risk (2.10, 1.92 to 2.31), and estradiol with dydrogesterone had the lowest risk (1.18, 0.98 to 1.42). Transdermal preparations were not associated with risk of venous thromboembolism, which was consistent for different regimens (overall adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.87 to 1.01).
CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, transdermal treatment was the safest type of hormone replacement therapy when risk of venous thromboembolism was assessed. Transdermal treatment appears to be underused, with the overwhelming preference still for oral preparations.
Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Estrogens; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Menopause; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; United Kingdom; Venous Thromboembolism
PubMed: 30626577
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4810 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology May 2022Investigate the association between use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) (an injectable progestin-only contraceptive) and leiomyoma development.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the association between use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) (an injectable progestin-only contraceptive) and leiomyoma development.
METHODS
We conducted a cohort study in the Detroit, Michigan, area that involved four clinic visits at 20-month intervals over 5 years (2010-2018) and used a standardized ultrasonography protocol to prospectively measure leiomyomas 0.5 cm or more in diameter. Participants were 1,693 self-identified Black women aged 23-35 years with no prior leiomyoma diagnosis and no hysterectomy. For this substudy, years since last use of DMPA was ascertained from questionnaire data at every visit. Leiomyoma incidence was defined as the first visit with an observed leiomyoma among women who were leiomyoma-free at enrollment. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate associations were examined with Cox models. Leiomyoma growth was calculated as the change in log-volume for leiomyomas matched at successive visits and was modeled using linear mixed models accounting for clustered data. Leiomyoma loss, defined as a reduction in leiomyoma number in successive visits, was modeled using Poisson regression. All models used time-varying exposure and covariates.
RESULTS
Of participants with at least one follow-up visit (N=1,610), 42.9% had ever used DMPA. Participants exposed to DMPA within the previous 2 years experienced reduced leiomyoma development during the subsequent observation interval compared with never users, including lower leiomyoma incidence (5.2% vs 10.7%), adjusted hazard ratio 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-1.0), 42.0% lower leiomyoma growth (95% CI -51.4 to -30.7) and 60% greater leiomyoma loss (adjusted risk ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2). Excess leiomyoma loss was also seen for those who used DMPA 2-4 years before the visit compared with never users, 2.1-fold increase (95% CI 1.4-3.1).
CONCLUSION
Recent use of DMPA was associated with reduced leiomyoma development and increased leiomyoma loss. Such changes in early leiomyoma development in young women could delay symptom onset and reduce the need for invasive treatment.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Delayed-Action Preparations; Female; Humans; Incidence; Leiomyoma; Medroxyprogesterone; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
PubMed: 35576339
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004745 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Aug 2023Endometrial cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancers worldwide, and early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer has a poor prognosis. Adjuvant...
BACKGROUND
Endometrial cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancers worldwide, and early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer has a poor prognosis. Adjuvant treatments after surgery, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have been widely used in clinical practice to improve patient survival. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a synthetic progestogen that has been reported to have potential anticancer effects in endometrial cancer. However, its efficacy, safety, and long-term prognostic benefits as an adjuvant treatment for endometrial cancer remain controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the efficacy and prognostic impact of adjuvant medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment in patients with early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer and evaluate its safety.
AIM
To observe the efficacy and prognosis of adjuvant treatment of endometrial cancer with medroxyprogesterone acetate and to evaluate its safety.
METHODS
We collected the clinical data of 200 patients with early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer who were admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of our hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. The control group (100 patients) underwent conventional surgical treatment, and the study group (100 patients) was administered adjuvant medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets on top of the control group. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and log-rank test were performed to determine the possible factors influencing the 5-year cumulative survival rate in the patients. The Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing the survival prognosis of endometrial cancer.
RESULTS
According to the Cox regression analysis, age [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.636, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.411-15.237], pathological type (HR = 6.943, 95%CI: 2.299-20.977), molecular typing (HR = 5.789, 95%CI: 3.305-10.141), and myometrial infiltration (HR = 5.768, 95%CI: 1.898-17.520) were factors influencing the prognosis of patients with early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer.
CONCLUSION
Age, pathological type, molecular typing, and myometrial infiltration were all relevant factors affecting the prognosis of early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer. The potential long-term prognostic benefit of adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy in patients with early-stage high-risk endometrial cancer is worthy of clinical consideration.
PubMed: 37637703
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i23.5447 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Aug 2014Progestin-only contraceptive injectables and implants are highly effective, longer-acting contraceptive methods that can be used by most women in most circumstances.... (Review)
Review
Progestin-only contraceptive injectables and implants are highly effective, longer-acting contraceptive methods that can be used by most women in most circumstances. Globally, 6% of women using modern contraception use injectables and 1% use implants. Injectables are the predominant contraceptive method used in sub-Saharan Africa, and account for 43% of modern contraceptive methods used. A lower-dose, subcutaneous formulation of the most widely used injectable, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate, has been developed. Implants have the highest effectiveness of any contraceptive method. Commodity cost, which historically limited implant availability in low-resource countries, was markedly lowered between 2012 and 2013. Changes in menstrual bleeding patterns are extremely common with both methods, and a main cause of discontinuation. Advice from normative bodies differs on progestin-only contraceptive use by breastfeeding women 0-6 weeks postpartum. Whether these methods are associated with HIV acquisition is a controversial issue, with important implications for sub-Saharan Africa, which has a disproportionate burden of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and maternal mortality.
Topics: Breast Feeding; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Implants; Female; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Pregnancy; Progesterone Congeners
PubMed: 24996766
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.05.003 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Jul 2022Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a progestin widely used in humans as hormone replacement therapy and at other indications. Many progestin metabolites, as the...
Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a progestin widely used in humans as hormone replacement therapy and at other indications. Many progestin metabolites, as the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, have GABA-receptor modulatory effects and are known to affect memory, learning, appetite, and mood. In women, 4 years chronic treatment with MPA doubles the frequency of dementia and in rats, MPA causes cognitive impairment related to the GABAergic system. Activation of the membrane bound GABA receptor results in a chloride ion flux that can be studied by whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings. The purpose of this study was to clarify the modulatory effects of MPA and specific MPA metabolites, with structures like known GABA-receptor modulators, on different GABA-receptor subtypes. An additional aim was to verify the results as steroid effects on GABA response in single cells taken from rat hypothalamus. HEK-293 cell-lines permanently expressing the recombinant human GABA-receptor subtype α1β2γ2L or α5β3γ2L or α2β3γ2S were created. The MPA metabolites 3α5α-MPA,3β5α-MPA and 3β5β-MPA were synthesised and purified for electrophysiological patch-clamp measurements with a Dynaflow system. The effects of MPA and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were also studied. None of the studied MPA metabolites affected the responses mediated by α1β2γ2L or α5β3γ2L GABA receptors. Contrary, MPA clearly acted both as a positive modulator and as a direct activator of the α5β3γ2L and α2β3γ2S GABA receptors. However, in concentrations up to 10 μM, MPA was inactive at the α1β2γ2L GABA receptor. In the patch-clamp recordings from dissociated cells of the preoptic area in rats, MPA increased the amplitude of responses to GABA. In addition, MPA alone without added GABA, evoked a current response. In conclusion, MPA acts as a positive modulator of specific GABA receptor subtypes expressed in HEK cells and at native GABA receptors in single cells from the hypothalamic preoptic area.
Topics: Animals; Cognition; Female; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Progestins; Rats; Receptors, GABA-A; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 35395561
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105754 -
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) May 2015Does medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) impair human dendritic cell (DC) activation and function?
STUDY QUESTION
Does medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) impair human dendritic cell (DC) activation and function?
SUMMARY ANSWER
In vitro MPA treatment suppressed expression of CD40 and CD80 by human primary DCs responding to Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist stimulation (i.e. DC activation). Moreover, this MPA-mediated decrease in CD40 expression impaired DC capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation (i.e. DC function).
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
MPA is the active molecule in Depo-Provera(®) (DMPA), a commonly used injectable hormonal contraceptive (HC). Although DMPA treatment of mice prior to viral mucosal tissue infection impaired the capacity of DCs to up-regulate CD40 and CD80 and prime virus-specific T cell proliferation, neither DC activation marker expression nor the ability of DCs to promote T cell proliferation were affected by in vitro progesterone treatment of human DCs generated from peripheral blood monocytes.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
This cross-sectional study examined MPA-mediated effects on the activation and function of human primary untouched peripheral blood DCs.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Human DCs isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by negative immunomagnetic selection were incubated for 24 h with various concentrations of MPA. After an additional 24 h incubation with the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), flow cytometry was used to evaluate DC phenotype (i.e. expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR). In separate experiments, primary untouched human DCs were sequentially MPA-treated, poly I:C-activated, and incubated for 7 days with fluorescently labeled naïve allogeneic T cells. Flow cytometry was then used to quantify allogeneic T cell proliferation.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Several pharmacologically relevant concentrations of MPA dramatically reduced CD40 and CD80 expression in human primary DCs responding to the immunostimulant poly I:C. In addition, MPA-treated DCs displayed a reduced capacity to promote allogeneic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell proliferation. In other DC: T cell co-cultures, the addition of antibody blocking the CD40-CD154 (CD40L) interaction mirrored the decreased T cell proliferation produced by MPA treatment, while addition of recombinant soluble CD154 restored the capacity of MPA-treated DCs to induce T cell proliferation to levels produced by non-MPA-treated controls.
LIMITATIONS, REASON FOR CAUTION
While our results newly reveal that pharmacologically relevant MPA concentrations suppress human DC function in vitro, additional research is needed to learn if DMPA similarly inhibits DC maturation and function in the human female genital tract.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Identification of a mechanism by which MPA impairs human DC activation and function increases the biological plausibility for the relationships currently suspected between DMPA use and enhanced susceptibility to genital tract infection.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS
Funding provided by the NIH (grant R01HD072663) and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Topics: B7-1 Antigen; CD40 Antigens; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Dendritic Cells; Female; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Monocytes; T-Lymphocytes; Toll-Like Receptor 3
PubMed: 25740884
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dev035 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Mar 2024To assess the risk of intracranial meningioma associated with the use of selected progestogens.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of intracranial meningioma associated with the use of selected progestogens.
DESIGN
National case-control study.
SETTING
French National Health Data System (ie, ).
PARTICIPANTS
Of 108 366 women overall, 18 061 women living in France who had intracranial surgery for meningioma between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2018 (restricted inclusion periods for intrauterine systems) were deemed to be in the case group. Each case was matched to five controls for year of birth and area of residence (90 305 controls).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Selected progestogens were used: progesterone, hydroxyprogesterone, dydrogesterone, medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, promegestone, dienogest, and intrauterine levonorgestrel. For each progestogen, use was defined by at least one dispensation within the year before the index date (within three years for 13.5 mg levonorgestrel intrauterine systems and five years for 52 mg). Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio for each progestogen meningioma association.
RESULTS
Mean age was 57.6 years (standard deviation 12.8). Analyses showed excess risk of meningioma with use of medrogestone (42 exposed cases/18 061 cases (0.2%) 79 exposed controls/90 305 controls (0.1%), odds ratio 3.49 (95% confidence interval 2.38 to 5.10)), medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable, 9/18 061 (0.05%) 11/90 305 (0.01%), 5.55 (2.27 to 13.56)), and promegestone (83/18 061 (0.5%) 225/90 305 (0.2 %), 2.39 (1.85 to 3.09)). This excess risk was driven by prolonged use (≥one year). Results showed no excess risk of intracranial meningioma for progesterone, dydrogesterone, or levonorgestrel intrauterine systems. No conclusions could be drawn concerning dienogest or hydroxyprogesterone because of the small number of individuals who received these drugs. A highly increased risk of meningioma was observed for cyproterone acetate (891/18 061 (4.9%) 256/90 305 (0.3%), odds ratio 19.21 (95% confidence interval 16.61 to 22.22)), nomegestrol acetate (925/18 061 (5.1%) 1121/90 305 (1.2%), 4.93 (4.50 to 5.41)), and chlormadinone acetate (628/18 061 (3.5%) 946/90 305 (1.0%), 3.87 (3.48 to 4.30)), which were used as positive controls for use.
CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged use of medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and promegestone was found to increase the risk of intracranial meningioma. The increased risk associated with the use of injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate, a widely used contraceptive, and the safety of levonorgestrel intrauterine systems are important new findings.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Progestins; Progesterone; Levonorgestrel; Meningioma; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Dydrogesterone; Medrogestone; Promegestone; Case-Control Studies; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38537944
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-078078 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Apr 2024Short-acting progestin-only injectables containing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) are a safe method of contraception. Although DMPA has been available for... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Short-acting progestin-only injectables containing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) are a safe method of contraception. Although DMPA has been available for several decades, there is little data on its influence on the risk of breast cancer. Hence, the aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the existing studies and create clarity regarding a possible association with breast cancer.
METHODS
Literature searches were executed in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP. Search terms were related to DMPA and breast cancer. After elimination of duplicates, 3'850 studies were identified and assessed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, ten studies were selected and included in this review.
RESULTS
All the selected papers were case-control-studies, except for one pooled analysis and one study comparing observed and expected number of cancer cases. Most of the included studies found no overall elevated breast cancer incidence in DMPA users, only one study found a slightly increased risk and two studies concluded with a significant increase for the overall breast cancer risk.
CONCLUSION
There is little evidence that DMPA may increase the overall risk for breast cancer. However, the incidence of breast cancer is possibly increased in current and more recent users, especially in women younger than 35 years. Long-term use did not result in any risk increase. Nevertheless, further studies will be necessary to confirm these findings and weigh up the individual risks and benefits of this contraceptive method.
Topics: Female; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Delayed-Action Preparations; Breast Neoplasms; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Progestins
PubMed: 37966517
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07265-5