https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8219-5504
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Kristina Allen-Brady, Erica B Johnstone, Corrine K Welt, Response to Letter to the Editor: Breast Cancer is Increased in Women With Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 110, Issue 5, May 2025, Pages e1725–e1726, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae885
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In response to Dr. Merrill (1), we would like to further clarify our findings and their importance for women who suffer from primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). It is clear that fertility is a marker of overall health (2). Our data furthers the understanding by demonstrating that a subset of women with POI develop breast cancer, and those with a family history of cancer are at increased risk (3).
While we do not assert that all women with POI are at increased risk for breast cancer, risk is increased overall, and there is a genetic link (3). Two studies referenced by Dr. Merrill demonstrating decreased breast cancer in women with POI (4, 5) have several differences in their study populations compared to ours. They included women with Turner syndrome and women who had a bilateral oophorectomy, both expected to have a lower breast cancer rate and excluded from our study (6).
