Sperm nuclear apoptotic DNA fragmentation in men with testicular cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether sperm from patients with a seminoma and patients with a non-seminoma present with an increased rate of apoptotic DNA fragmentation, when compared with men without testicular cancer and who had fathered a child in the 2 years preceding the study.


METHODS
Controlled prospective study.


METHODS
Patients referred to a sperm bank in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Men with a diagnosed seminoma, men with a diagnosed non-seminoma, both after orchiectomy and before adjuvant therapy, and men with proven paternity in the 2 previous years.


METHODS
Rate of nuclear apoptotic sperm DNA fragmentation as assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) assay, classified as positive (with DNA fragmentation) or negative (without DNA fragmentation).


RESULTS
Of the 48 men with testicular cancer included in the study, 29 (60.4%) presented a non-seminoma and 19 (39.6%) a seminoma. Patients with non-seminoma presented with lower progressive sperm motility than the control group (57.4% and 66.3%, respectively), but both were still within normal ranges. Sperm concentration was lower in seminoma (31.2 x 10(6)/mL) and in non-seminoma (20.6 x 10(6)/mL) when compared with the control group (78.1 x 10(6)/mL), but values did not differ between the two testicular cancer groups. Sperm morphology was lower in patients with non-seminoma than in the control group (10% and 13.1%, respectively). Results for sperm nuclear apoptotic DNA fragmentation (mean; standard deviation) were 12.6%; 4.5% for the control group, 12.2%; 5.5% for the non-seminoma group, and 12.5%; 6.4% for the seminoma group. No differences were found between the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that the presence of a seminoma or a non-seminoma is not associated with an increase in sperm apoptotic DNA fragmentation.
Ribeiro
Taísa Michelucci
TM
Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil.
Bertolla
Ricardo Pimenta
RP
Spaine
Deborah Montagnini
DM
Fraietta
Renato
R
Ortiz
Valdemar
V
Cedenho
Agnaldo Pereira
AP
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D048430:Cell Shape; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010334:Paternity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018239:Seminoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult