Characterization of sperm chromatin quality in testicular cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma patients prior to chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Although the incidences of testicular cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma have increased in young men over the past decade, combination chemotherapy has improved survival. As fertility is of importance to these patients, characterization of sperm chromatin structure is needed. We assessed sperm chromatin in testicular cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma patients prior to chemotherapy, in comparison with control community and idiopathic infertile volunteers.


METHODS
DNA damage was assessed with the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and comet assays; reactive thiols (SH) and DNA compaction were determined with the monobromobimane (mBBr) and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) assays, respectively.


RESULTS
Both testicular cancer (37%) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (81%) patients had normospermic samples with increased DNA damage, compared with controls. Cancer patients also had higher reactive thiols and CMA3 staining, indicating low DNA compaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm DNA integrity and compaction were affected in testicular cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma patients prior to chemotherapy. Although SCSA, TUNEL and comet assays all detected DNA damage, the latter was optimal for use in cancer patients. A combination of the comet assay with tests that evaluate sperm DNA compaction, such as flow cytometry-based CMA3 and mBBr assays, is a reliable strategy to characterize sperm chromatin quality in cancer patients at the time of sperm banking.
O'Flaherty
C
C
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Vaisheva
F
F
Hales
B F
BF
Chan
P
P
Robaire
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014128:Chromomycin A3; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D002843:Chromatin; D014128:Chromomycin A3; C028381:monobromobimane