Malignancy may adversely influence the quality and behaviour of oocytes.
A case series of eight cycles of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in five women diagnosed with malignant disorders is presented. These patients chose to defer definitive treatment for a chance for preservation of potential fertility. The response of these patients to ovarian stimulation, and the outcome, was compared with 17 IVF cycles in 12 age-matched patients with isolated tubal infertility. An apparent adverse influence of malignant disease on the quality and behaviour of oocytes was observed. Despite a comparable total number of oocytes per cycle in the two groups, a significantly reduced percentage of mature oocytes was retrieved per cycle from patients with malignant diseases. The oocytes from patients with malignant disorders were of a poorer quality and exhibited a significantly impaired fertilization rate compared to the controls. We propose that neoplastic processes, irrespective of the site or cell of origin, may have a detrimental impact on the biology of oocytes, an effect akin to that seen on spermatozoa in men with certain malignancies.
Pal
L
L
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Leykin
L
L
Schifren
J L
JL
Isaacson
K B
KB
Chang
Y C
YC
Nikruil
N
N
Chen
Z
Z
Toth
T L
TL
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery