title: Serum Stem Cell Factor Assay in Elderly Poor Responder Patients Undergoing IVF: A New Biomarker to Customize Follicle Aspiration Cycle by Cycle.
abstract: In humans, stem cell factor (SCF), produced during follicular phase, may reflect a successful stimulation and oocyte maturation and so it may be a predictor of in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. An observational cohort study was conducted on 37 poor responders scheduled for fresh nondonor IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment with standard controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) using recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH; S-COS group). A total of 35 women received a second treatment using both rFSH and recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH; LH-COS group). From 144 samples collected at pickup day, serum concentration of SCF (s-SCF) and follicular levels of SCF (f-SCF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. No differences were observed between the 2 protocols in terms of both f-SCF and s-SCF levels. The comparison between f-SCF and s-SCF levels showed a strong linear correlation. The comparison between s-SCF levels and clinical outcomes showed a statistically significant correlation between both the number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved and the embryos obtained after fertilization. Cases with at least 3 MII oocytes showed s-SCF values >800 pg/mL, 2 MII oocytes >600 pg/mL, and 1 MII oocytes >400 pg/mL. In 100% of cases with s-SCF <400 pg/mL, no MII oocytes were recovered. All 5 pregnancies occurred in patients with s-SCF values >1000 pg/mL. The introduction of s-SCF assay in the management of poor-responder patients may contribute to solving the dilemma of whether to cancel or proceed with the stimulation cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy ginecologia_padova@libero.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine-Biological Chemistry, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrisani
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Amerigo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitagliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venturella
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zicchina
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health-University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noventa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: assisted reproduction; oocyte pick up; ovarian stimulation protocol; personalization of treatment; poor ovarian response; predictive biomarker; recombinant LH; stem cell factor