Long-term effect of cytotoxic treatments on sperm DNA fragmentation in patients affected by testicular germ cell tumor
Farnetani, Ginevra (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Fino, Maria Grazia (Careggi University Hospital (Florència, Itàlia))
Cioppi, Francesca (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Riera-Escamilla, Antoni (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Tamburrino, Lara (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Vannucci, Matteo (Careggi University Hospital (Florència, Itàlia))
Rosta, Viktoria (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Vinci, Serena (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Casamonti, Elena (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Turki, Leila (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Degl'Innocenti, Selene (Careggi University Hospital (Florència, Itàlia))
Spinelli, Matilde (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Marchiani, Sara (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Lotti, Francesco (Careggi University Hospital (Florència, Itàlia))
Muratori, Monica (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Krausz, Csilla (Careggi University Hospital (Florència, Itàlia))
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Testicular germ cell tumor is the most frequent neoplasia in men of reproductive age, with a 5-year survival rate of 95%. Antineoplastic treatments induce sperm DNA fragmentation, especially within the first year post-therapy. Data in the literature are heterogeneous concerning longer follow-up periods, and the large majority is limited to 2 years. To define the timing for the recovery of sperm DNA damage and the proportion of patients with severe DNA damage at 2 and 3 years from the end of therapy. Materials and methods: Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated in 115 testicular germ cell tumor patients using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay coupled with flow cytometry before (T) and 2 (T) and 3 (T) years post-treatment. Patients were divided based on the type of treatment: carboplatin, bleomycin-etoposide-cisplatin, and radiotherapy. For 24 patients, paired sperm DNA fragmentation data were available at all time-points (T-T-T). Seventy-nine cancer-free, fertile normozoospermic men served as controls. Severe DNA damage was defined as the 95th percentile in controls (sperm DNA fragmentation = 50%). Comparing patients versus controls, we observed: (i) no differences at T and T and (ii) significantly higher sperm DNA fragmentation levels (p < 0. 05) at T in all treatment groups. Comparing pre- and post-therapy in the 115 patients, the median sperm DNA fragmentation values were higher in all groups at T, reaching significance (p < 0. 05) only in the carboplatin group. While the median sperm DNA fragmentation values were also higher in the strictly paired cohort at T, about 50% of patients returned to baseline. The proportion of severe DNA damage in the entire cohort was 23. 4% and 4. 8% of patients at T and T, respectively. Discussion: Currently, testicular germ cell tumor patients are advised to wait 2 years post-therapy before seeking natural pregnancy. Our results suggest that this period may not be sufficient for all patients. The analysis of sperm DNA fragmentation may represent a useful biomarker for pre-conception counseling following cancer treatment.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Chemotherapy ; Cytotoxic therapy ; Sperm DNA fragmentation ; Spermatogenesis ; Testicular cancer
Published in:	Andrology, Vol. 11 Núm. 8 (november 2023) , p. 1653-1661, ISSN 2047-2927

DOI: 10.1111/andr.13429
PMID: 36932666

9 p, 547.3 KB

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Articles > Research articles
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