TY - JOUR T1 - Fractional CO laser for genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors: clinical, immunological, and microbiological aspects. JF - Lasers Med Sci Y1 - 2018 A1 - Becorpi, Angelamaria A1 - Campisciano, Giuseppina A1 - Zanotta, Nunzia A1 - Tredici, Zelinda A1 - Guaschino, Secondo A1 - Petraglia, Felice A1 - Pieralli, Annalisa A1 - Sisti, Giovanni A1 - De Seta, Francesco A1 - Comar, Manola KW - Breast Neoplasms KW - Cancer Survivors KW - Cytokines KW - Dyspareunia KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Lasers, Gas KW - Menopause KW - Microbiota KW - Middle Aged KW - Prospective Studies KW - Syndrome KW - Vagina KW - Vaginal Diseases AB -

The composition of vaginal microbiome in menopause and cancer survivor women changes dramatically leading to genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in up to 70% of patients. Recent reports suggest that laser therapy may be valuable as a not hormonal therapeutic modality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of fractional CO laser treatment on the vaginal secretory pathway of a large panel of immune mediators, usually implicated in tissue remodeling and inflammation, and on microbiome composition in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. The Ion Torrent PGM platform and the Luminex Bio-Plex platform were used for microbiome and immune factor analysis. The significant reduction of clinical symptoms and the non-significant changes in vaginal microbiome support the efficacy and safety of laser treatment. Moreover, the high remodeling status in vaginal epithelium is demonstrated by the significant changes in inflammatory and modulatory cytokine patterns. Laser therapy can be used for the treatment of GSM symptoms and does not show any adverse effects. However, further studies will be needed to clarify its long-term efficacy and other effects.

VL - 33 IS - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29492713?dopt=Abstract ER -