Researchers have discovered a way to grow human stem cells destined to become mature sperm in an effort to provide fertility options later in life to males who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo chemotherapy and radiation as children. The findings were published on Oct. 22 in Nature Communications from a team led by Sandra Ryeom, an associate professor of Cancer Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine, and co-leader of the Tumor Biology Program at the Abramson Cancer Center.
“For years researchers have been trying to find ways to grow and expand these cells from testicular biopsies donated by young patients prior to their cancer treatment, but until now, there has not been a consistently successful approach,” says Ryeom.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 530 young adults between the ages of 20 and 39 years is a survivor of childhood cancer. Cancer treatments leave a majority of boys infertile, as chemotherapy and radiation often kill sperm-producing stem cells. While there are ways to preserve fertility for boys diagnosed with cancer after puberty, no such options exist for prepubescent boys.
“We have never had any fertility preservation options for prepubescent boys,” said study co-author Jill Ginsberg, a pediatric oncologist and director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The findings in this work are a great first step forward for our youngest patients.”
Read more at Penn Medicine News.
