Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 10, 2154-2159,
October 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Opinion |
Fertility preservation of boys undergoing anti-cancer therapy: a review of the existing situation and prospects for the future: Opinion
1 CARE (Centres for Assisted Reproduction), The Park Hospital, Sherwood Lodge Drive, Burntstump Country Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8RX and 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Abstract
With the advancement of medical science, most cancers in children are now treatable, the cure rate being almost 85%. In boys, one side effect of treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) is destruction of the sperm precursor cells in the testis, resulting in the failure of sperm formation after puberty, and consequent infertility. At the time of anti-cancer treatment, future fertility of the boy patient is at the very bottom of the relative quality of life (RQL) parameters list; however, in adults infertility is an important issue following cure from cancer. In this article we have first reviewed the existing situation with regard to the state of the art of fertility preservation in young boys with cancer, and have then raised clinical and ethical issues and suggested a way forward. The review concludes with the emphasis that certain important issues still need to be resolved and, until these are, then the different techniques available should be confined to approved, ethical clinical trials where efficacy and safety can be fully evaluated.
Key words: anti-cancer treatment/cancer/fertility preservation/germ cell transplantation/in-vitro spermatogenesis
Notes
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: CARE (Centres for Assisted Reproduction), The Park Hospital, Sherwood Lodge Drive, Burntstump Country Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8RX, UK. E-mail: irfan.aslam{at}care-ivf.com
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