Fertility Issues in Cancer Survivors

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 September 2024) | Viewed by 2380

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: fertility preservation; ovulation induction; vitrification; infertility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following advances in cancer therapy, the majority of adolescents or young adults will become long-term cancer survivors. Young cancer survivors experience a higher risk of infertility than the general population, but individual risk is highly variable depending on cancer type and type and dose of antineoplastic therapy. Fertility loss can be a devastating consequence of cancer treatment for survivors, resulting in poorer quality of life. Prior studies have shown that potential loss of fertility can be as painful as the cancer diagnosis itself, and for some, the possibility of preserving fertility is fundamental to coping with the burden of cancer treatment. Thus, it is mandatory to carry out a fertility consultation before starting antineoplastic treatments.

Fertility counseling before cancer treatment aims to inform patients and families about their future fertility potential and to facilitate the preservation of fertility. The purpose of this Special Issue is to improve knowledge on the gonadotoxicity of oncological and radiotherapy treatments in order to choose and customize the most suitable fertility preservation techniques for men and women.

Furthermore, this collection aims to evaluate the outcomes of spontaneous pregnancies and from in vitro fertilization techniques arising in cancer survivors and perinatal and pediatric follow-up of the births in order to compare them with the general population.

Dr. Eleonora Porcu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • oncofertility
  • oocyte cryopreservation
  • sperm cryopreservation
  • fertility
  • reproductive health
  • child development

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

16 pages, 681 KiB  
Review
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Male Fertility: Should Fertility Preservation Options Be Considered before Treatment?
by Elissavet Ntemou, Emily Delgouffe and Ellen Goossens
Cancers 2024, 16(6), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16061176 - 17 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a viable option for many cancer patients, including specific subgroups of pediatric patients. Despite their efficiency in treating different types of cancer, ICIs are responsible for a number of immune-related adverse events, including inflammatory [...] Read more.
In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a viable option for many cancer patients, including specific subgroups of pediatric patients. Despite their efficiency in treating different types of cancer, ICIs are responsible for a number of immune-related adverse events, including inflammatory toxicities, that can affect several organs. However, our knowledge of the impact of ICIs on the testis and male fertility is limited. It is possible that ICI treatment affects testicular function and spermatogenesis either directly or indirectly (or both). Treatment with ICIs may cause increased inflammation and immune cell infiltration within the seminiferous tubules of the testis, disturbing spermatogenesis or testosterone deficiency (primary hypogonadism). Additionally, the interference of ICIs with the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis may alter testosterone production, affecting testicular function (secondary hypogonadism) and spermatogenesis. This review provides an overview of the available evidence on the potential association between ICIs and the disruption of spermatogenesis, with special focus on ICIs targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Moreover, it highlights the need for further investigations and encourages the discussion of associated risks and fertility-preservation considerations between clinicians and patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertility Issues in Cancer Survivors)
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