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Sperm DNA Damage in Cancer Patients
Hermance Beaud1, Amelie R Tremblay1, Peter T K Chan2
1Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, QC, Canada.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 14, 2019
Summary
Cancer treatments can harm male fertility, affecting sperm quality long-term. While sperm production may recover, DNA damage persists, posing risks for fathering children, necessitating improved fertility preservation methods.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Male fertility is a significant concern for cancer survivors.
- Cancer and its treatments can impair spermatogenesis, reducing sperm count and quality.
- Sperm DNA damage, including aneuploidy and epigenetic defects, can persist post-treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of cancer and treatments on male fertility and sperm quality.
- To discuss the implications of sperm DNA alterations for reproductive outcomes.
- To highlight the need for enhanced fertility preservation strategies for cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental data and longitudinal studies on male cancer survivors.
- Analysis of cohort studies examining birth rates and child health outcomes.
- Assessment of the effects of chemotherapy and novel anticancer agents on spermatogenesis.
Main Results:
- Sperm production can recover post-cancer treatment, but sperm DNA damage remains a concern.
- Male cancer survivors have an increased risk of producing sperm with genetic and epigenetic abnormalities.
- Large cohort studies show a lower birth rate but no significant adverse health effects in children born to male cancer survivors.
Conclusions:
- Male cancer survivors face long-term risks of impaired sperm quality due to treatment-induced DNA damage.
- Understanding the effects of various cancer therapies on sperm is crucial for mitigating side effects.
- Current fertility preservation options, primarily sperm cryopreservation, are insufficient for prepubertal or young postpubertal patients, necessitating new strategies.
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