World J Mens Health.  2019 May;37(2):166-174. 10.5534/wjmh.180043.

Recovery of Spermatogenesis Following Cancer Treatment with Cytotoxic Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

• Okada K
• Fujisawa M

• KMID: 2443232
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.180043

Abstract

The survival rates of boys and men with cancer have increased due to advances in cancer treatments; however, maintenance of quality of life, including fertility preservation, remains a major issue. Fertile male patients who receive radiation and/or chemotherapy face temporary, long-term, or permanent gonadal damage, particularly with exposure to alkylating agents and whole-body irradiation, which sometimes induce critical germ cell damage. These cytotoxic treatments have a significant impact on a patient's ability to have their own biological offspring, which is of particular concern to cancer patients of reproductive age. Therefore, various strategies are needed in order to preserve male fertility. Sperm cryopreservation is an effective method for preserving spermatozoa. Advances have also been achieved in pre-pubertal germ cell storage and research to generate differentiated male germ cells from various types of stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and spermatogonial stem cells. These approaches offer hope to many patients in whom germ cell loss is associated with sterility, but are still experimental and preliminary. This review examines the current understanding of the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on male fertility.

Keyword

Drug therapy; Infertility, male; Radiation; Spermatogenesis

MeSH Terms

Alkylating Agents
Cryopreservation
Drug Therapy*
Embryonic Stem Cells
Fertility
Fertility Preservation
Germ Cells
Gonads
Hope
Humans
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Infertility
Infertility, Male
Male
Methods
Quality of Life
Radiotherapy*
Spermatogenesis*
Spermatozoa
Stem Cells
Survival Rate
Whole-Body Irradiation
Alkylating Agents

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