Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39729211›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2025

Effects of vaginal estrogen on serum estradiol during aromatase inhibitor therapy in breast cancer patients with vulvovaginal atrophy: a prospective trial.

Mária Faltinová, Leena Vehmanen, Heli Lyytinen, Hanna Savolainen-Peltonen, Anni Virtanen, Mikko Haanpää, Esa Hämäläinen, Aila Tiitinen, Johanna Mattson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mária FaltinováComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, PO Box 180, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
Leena VehmanenComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, PO Box 180, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
Heli LyytinenComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, PO Box 180, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
Hanna Savolainen-PeltonenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Anni VirtanenHUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Mikko HaanpääComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, PO Box 180, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
Esa HämäläinenHUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Aila TiitinenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Johanna MattsonComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, PO Box 180, 00290, Helsinki, Finland. johanna.mattson@hus.fi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study aimed to analyze changes in serum estradiol (E2) levels during concurrent vaginal estradiol therapy and adjuvant letrozole in postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Secondary objectives included assessing the effects of therapy on vaginal atrophy, quality of life (QoL) and menopause-related symptoms.

methods20 postmenopausal patients undergoing adjuvant letrozole therapy and experiencing VVA symptoms were treated with vaginal estradiol for 12 weeks. Gynecologic examination and symptom screening were conducted at baseline and after 12 weeks. Serum E2 levels were analyzed at baseline, and at two, four, eight, and 12 weeks. E2 levels were measured using both a routine liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method and a highly sensitive (hsE2-MS) LC-MS/MS method.

resultsAt baseline, serum E2 levels, measured with hsE2-MS, were below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in all patients. E2 remained below LLOQ throughout the treatment period in three patients (15%). Persistent E2 elevation above LLOQ was observed in six patients (30%), while isolated E2 elevations occurred in 10 patients (50%). One patient experienced transient E2 elevation in two sporadic measurements. Serum E2 variations were shown by using both LC-MS/MS methods. Vaginal pH, vaginal maturation index (VMI), and VVA symptoms significantly improved during treatment.

conclusionIntravaginal estradiol therapy (10ug) during adjuvant letrozole resulted in transient increases in systemic E2 levels among early BC patients with VVA. Highly sensitive LC-MS/MS is a promising method for monitoring E2 levels during aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy.

Indexed as

Aromatase InhibitorsBreast NeoplasmsEstradiolEstrogensVaginaVulvaAdministration, IntravaginalAgedAtrophyFemaleHumansLetrozoleMiddle AgedPostmenopauseProspective StudiesQuality of LifeAromatase InhibitorsEstradiolEstrogensLetrozoleAromatase inhibitorBreast cancerEstradiolIntravaginal estrogen therapyLiquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometryVulvovaginal atrophy

Identifiers

PMID39729211
PMCPMC11930867

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.