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

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sezione di Endocrinologia, Andrologia e Medicina Interna, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Patologie Sistemiche, Università di Catania, Policlinico “G. Rodolico”, Bldg 4, Rm 2C19, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123, Catania, Italy

    N. Burrello, E. Vicari, S. La Vignera, G. Romeo, C. Campagna, D. Giuffrida, R. D’Agata & A. E. Calogero MD

  2. Clinical and Microbiological Laboratory, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    E. Magro

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  1. N. Burrello
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  2. E. Vicari
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  3. S. La Vignera
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  4. G. Romeo
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  5. C. Campagna
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  6. E. Magro
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  7. D. Giuffrida
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  8. R. D’Agata
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  9. A. E. Calogero MD
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Correspondence to A. E. Calogero MD.

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These authors contributed equally to the work.

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Burrello, N., Vicari, E., La Vignera, S. et al. Effects of anti-neoplastic treatment on sperm aneuploidy rate in patients with testicular tumor: A longitudinal study. J Endocrinol Invest 34, e121–e125 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346719

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346719

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