Vaginal Microbiome Changes and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Premenopausal Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Longitudinal Study Protocol

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Endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in premenopausal women often induces genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) due to hypoestrogenism.
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The study aims to assess the effects of endocrine therapy on vaginal microbiome diversity and dominant taxa in breast cancer survivors.
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A total of 110 premenopausal women will be enrolled and allocated to receive either ovarian function suppression with aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen.
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Vaginal swabs will be collected at multiple time points for microbiome analysis, alongside assessments of GSM symptoms and vaginal health.
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The study seeks to reveal mechanisms of GSM and inform personalized interventions through the integration of molecular and clinical data.

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