title: Sperm chromatin structure components are differentially repaired in cancer survivors.
abstract: Chemotherapy is often associated with male infertility. Our aim was to  determine the effect of chemotherapy on sperm chromatin quality in cancer  survivors. Sixteen men with advanced testicular cancer and 15 with Hodgkin  lymphoma requiring chemotherapy were compared with 11 community volunteers.  Eleven idiopathic infertile men with abnormal sperm chromatin were included as  a positive control group. Semen analysis and sperm chromatin quality were  determined prechemotherapy and at 6, 18, and 24 months posttreatment. DNA  damage was determined by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). The level  of DNA compaction was assayed by determining high DNA stainability (HDS,  SCSA), the percentage of free thiols (monobromobimane-labeling assay), and the  level of protamination (chromomycin A3-labeling assay). Sperm  concentration and motility were dramatically decreased in cancer patients  6-18 months after chemotherapy compared with community volunteers but  were not statistically different from community volunteers at 24 months  posttreatment. High levels of DNA damage were observed prechemotherapy, with a  tendency to remain high during the 24-month posttreatment period in testicular  cancer patients; low DNA compaction (HDS, SCSA) persisted in testicular cancer  patients 24 months postchemotherapy. Low levels of sperm DNA compaction were  observed in cancer patients compared with community volunteers and infertile  men. Sperm monobromobimane and chromomycin A3 labeling in cancer patients were  similar to those from community volunteers by 18 months after treatment.  Chemotherapy-induced damage to components of the sperm chromatin structure was  repaired differentially over time. However, significant sperm DNA damage and  low DNA compaction remained up to 24 months posttreatment. The assessment of  complementary aspects of sperm chromatin quality is necessary to evaluate  sperm samples in cancer survivors.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William Osler, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Cristian M
authors: CM
authors: O'Flaherty
authors: Peter T
authors: PT
authors: Chan
authors: Barbara F
authors: BF
authors: Hales
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Robaire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects*; D014128:Chromomycin A3; D004249:DNA Damage; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D017741:Survivors; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002843:Chromatin; D014128:Chromomycin A3