Innovations to preserve fertility in cancer affected prepubertal boys : From experimental approaches to clinical applications.

Innovations to preserve fertility in cancer affected prepubertal boys : From experimental approaches to clinical applications.

Gonadal damage is a relatively common consequence of the treatments used to cure pediatric cancer as the testes have a low threshold for damage by radiation and other cytotoxic agents. Although adult patients have established options to preserve their fertility before cancer therapy, the methods for prepubertal boys remain at experimental stage due to incomplete spermatogenesis before puberty. Recently, studies have shown that boys undergoing oncological treatments are associated with a very high risk of infertility, hence should be offered testicular tissue cryopreservation in order to protect their future fertility. However, oncofertility research in India is still in its infancy and awaits more focus to help cancer affected boys. Hence this research project involves collaborative work with Professor Stefan Schlatt at University of Muenster who is a member of European oncofertility consortium and well known in the area of fertility preservation aiming to address research issues such as isolation, preservation, and effective derivation of functionally competent spermatozoa to help cancer affected prepubertal boys. (Supported by: Alexander Von Humboldt foundation, Germany)