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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Mouse Oocyte Microinjection, Maturation and Ploidy Assessment
Published on: July 23, 2011
Malignancy may adversely influence the quality and behaviour of oocytes
L Pal1, L Leykin, J L Schifren
1Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Abstract:
A case series of eight cycles of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in five women diagnosed with malignant disorders is presented. These patients chose to defer definitive treatment for a chance for preservation of potential fertility. The response of these patients to ovarian stimulation, and the outcome, was compared with 17 IVF cycles in 12 age-matched patients with isolated tubal infertility. An apparent adverse influence of malignant disease on the quality and behaviour of oocytes was observed. Despite a comparable total number of oocytes per cycle in the two groups, a significantly reduced percentage of mature oocytes was retrieved per cycle from patients with malignant diseases. The oocytes from patients with malignant disorders were of a poorer quality and exhibited a significantly impaired fertilization rate compared to the controls. We propose that neoplastic processes, irrespective of the site or cell of origin, may have a detrimental impact on the biology of oocytes, an effect akin to that seen on spermatozoa in men with certain malignancies.
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