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33 - Preservation of fertility before cancer therapy

from Part III - Management of specific disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2010

By
Helen M. Picton  and
Anthony J. Rutherford
Edited by
Adam H. Balen ,
Sarah M. Creighton ,
Melanie C. Davies ,
Jane MacDougall  and
Richard Stanhope
Helen M. Picton
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Anthony J. Rutherford
Affiliation:
Assisted Conception Unit, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
Adam H. Balen
Affiliation:
Leeds Teaching Hospitals, University Trust
Sarah M. Creighton
Affiliation:
University College London Hospitals
Melanie C. Davies
Affiliation:
University College London
Jane MacDougall
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Richard Stanhope
Affiliation:
Great Ormond Street Hospital
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Summary

Introduction

In recent years, the improvement in the diagnosis, management and treatment of a range of solid and haematological childhood malignancies has led to a marked increase in the chances of long-term survival for a significant number of children and adolescents. However the chemo- and radiotherapies for treating cancers are frequently gonadotoxic and can render patients of either sex and any age temporarily or even permanently infertile. Like the malignant cells that are their intended targets, germ cells are highly susceptible to alkylating agents and platinum compounds used in chemotherapy formulations.

At the present time sperm banking remains the only proven method of fertility preservation for postpubertal boys, although hormonal manipulation and cryopreservation of testicular germ cells are possibilities for the future that could also benefit younger boys. The options for the preservation of female fertility are far more limited.

For girls and young women, mature oocyte freezing has many advantages, but it is unreliable. Most recently, the cryopreservation of immature oocytes in situ in small pieces of ovarian cortex followed by storage at low temperatures has been developed as an option to preserve female fertility before cancer treatment commences. Once the patient is in full remission and wishes to have fertility restored, the gonadal tissue can be thawed and either returned to the body as an autograft or, if there is any risk of reintroducing cancer cells in the graft, it may be possible to grow the gametes contained within the tissue to maturity in vitro.

Type
Chapter
Information
Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology
A Multidisciplinary Approach
 , pp. 416 - 427
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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