Effect of artificial stimulants on cryopreserved spermatozoa from cancer patients

We determined whether cryopreserved sperm samples obtained from cancer patients before treatment respond to artificial motility stimulants and if this response is related to the extent of disease.

Pre-freeze distribution of disease stage in the different types of cancer and the percentage of the population with or without oligospermia before cryopreservation were examined. Cryopreserved semen samples from 17 cancer patients (10 with testicular cancer, 5 with Hodgkin's disease and 2 with other metastatic disease) were examined for a relationship between post-thaw sperm motion characteristics and patient age or status (survived versus died) and type of disease. Motion characteristics (curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, average path velocity, linearity and amplitude of lateral head displacement) were analyzed on a computer assisted semen analyzer before (time 0), and 30 and 60 minutes after addition of a 2.5 mM. concentration of pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine.

Post-thaw sperm motion characteristics were not correlated with patient age or status, whether they did or did not have oligospermia, or type of cancer. Compared to baseline values, sperm motion characteristics increased significantly after stimulation at time 0 (p < 0.02) and at 60 minutes (p < 0.05). Oligospermic or nonoligospermic specimens responded to the same extent with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine. A negative correlation was noted between overall stage, and type of disease and motion characteristics.

Sperm banking should be encouraged at cancer diagnosis regardless of semen quality. Artificial stimulation of sperm motility results in significant improvement in sperm motion characteristics.