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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
Published on: September 16, 2021
Novel aspects on gonadotoxicity and fertility preservation in lymphoproliferative neoplasms
Erica Silvestris1, Gennaro Cormio2, Tetiana Skrypets3
1Gynecologic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" 70124 Bari, Italy.
Abstract:
The topic of fertility preservation in patients with a lymphoproliferative disease offers new aspects of debate, due to the introduction of novel chemotherapeutic regimens and small molecules in the clinical landscape. Cancer related infertility is mostly dependent on gonadotoxic treatments and fertile female patients are today addressed to the oocyte cryopreservation or to ovarian cortex fragment cryopreservation. These methods present advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed in the present review, together with the options for male patients. The recent discovery of functional ovarian stem cells (OCSs) in woman ovarian cortex, opens new avenues offering a innovative procedure for fertility preservation through as model of regenerative medicine. Here, we review the gonadotoxic potential of "classical" chemotherapeutic treatments as well as of "novel" targeted therapies actually employed for lymphoproliferative neoplasms in young patients and revisit both the today available and future chances to preserve and restore fertility after the cancer healing.
Insights
Fertility preservation for lymphoproliferative disease patients is evolving with new treatments. Options include oocyte or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, with potential future regenerative medicine approaches using ovarian stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Lymphoproliferative diseases often require gonadotoxic treatments, leading to cancer-related infertility.
- Novel chemotherapeutic regimens and targeted therapies present new challenges for fertility preservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current fertility preservation methods for patients with lymphoproliferative diseases.
- To discuss the gonadotoxic effects of both traditional and novel cancer therapies.
- To explore future fertility restoration possibilities, including regenerative medicine.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on fertility preservation techniques.
- Analysis of gonadotoxic potentials of various chemotherapeutic and targeted agents.
- Discussion of established and emerging fertility preservation strategies.
Main Results:
- Oocyte and ovarian cortex cryopreservation are current options for females, each with pros and cons.
- Male fertility preservation options also exist and are considered.
- Discovery of functional ovarian stem cells (OCSs) offers novel regenerative approaches.
Conclusions:
- Fertility preservation in lymphoproliferative disease patients requires careful consideration of treatment-related risks.
- Established methods like cryopreservation remain crucial, while ovarian stem cell research promises future restoration.
- A comprehensive approach is needed to manage fertility concerns in young cancer patients.
