Effects of anti-neoplastic treatment on sperm aneuploidy rate in patients with testicular tumor: A longitudinal study

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2011-06, Vol.34 (6), p.e121-e125
• Main Authors: Burrello, N., Vicari, E., La Vignera, S., Romeo, G., Campagna, C., Magro, E., Giuffrida, D., D’Agata, R., Calogero, A. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aneuploidy; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Chromosomes, Human - genetics; Endocrinology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Infertility, Male - genetics; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Oligospermia - genetics; Original Articles; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Radiotherapy; Spermatozoa - pathology; Testicular Neoplasms - genetics; Testicular Neoplasms - therapy; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03346719

Objective : The adjuvant radio/chemotherapy, usually employed after orchidectomy in patients with testicular tumors, allows a long-term survival with a consequent increased request for fertility. However, little is known about the effects of the anti-neoplastic treatment on sperm cytogenetic asset. Therefore, this prospective, longitudinal study was designed to evaluate the effects of radio- and/or chemotherapyon sperm chromosome. Methods : Eleven patients with testicular tumor were enrolled and underwent sperm aneuploidy rate evaluation before and after 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months from radio- and/or chemo-therapy ending. A double and triple multicolor fluorescence in-situ hybridizations for chromosomes 8, 12, 18, X and Y were used to evaluate the sperm aneuploidy rate. To define normal sperm aneuploidy rate, 18 healthy, normozoospermic men were selected as controls. Results : Before treatment, testicular tumor patients had a higher total sperm aneuploidy rate compared with normal men. Total sperm aneuploidy rate showed a slight, but statistically significant increase 6 months after anti-neoplastic treatment. This increase was mainly related to the high sperm aneuploidy rate found in 2 patients which remained elevated up to 12 months in both of them. Conclusion : These results showed that anti-neoplastic treatment caused only slight and transient sperm malsegregation events in patients with testicular tumor. However, since a subset of them had an elevated sperm aneuploidy rate for about 1 yr, we suggest to counsel them to refrain from fatherhood for this length of time.