Ovarian Follicles May Be Used To Preserve Fertility In Young Cancer Patients

A new study looks at how ovarian follicles could be used to preserve fertility in young female cancer patients.

During the study, researchers isolated follicles that substantially reduced the presence of cancer cells--so much so that two of the five tested transplanted materials showed no residual cancer cells.

"This research is an important advance in the potential expansion of fertility preservation options for young patients who may not be able to undergo hormone stimulation to induce ovulation before beginning chemotherapy," study author Jacqueline S. Jeruss, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery and director of the Breast Care Center at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a news release. "This study also provides new information on a method to reduce or eliminate cancer cell exposure during the fertility preservation process."

For many young women undergoing cancer treatments, fertility will be a concern. Current fertility preservation options for women include embryo- or egg-freezing that occur with the help of hormonal stimulation to induce ovulation. However, this is not always possible in younger patients and some cannot afford to delay cancer treatment to do so.

"The success rate for traditional in vitro fertilization is approximately 33 percent per cycle. For cancer patients, the oocytes or embryos that are cryo-preserved before cancer treatment may become their entire reproductive future," added study author Lonnie D. Shea, Ph.D., William and Valerie Hall Chair and professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. "The ovary can have tens to hundreds of thousands of follicles. If we can access that pool to preserve fertility, we could potentially create many more chances for reproductive success for these patients."

The researchers tested three types of biomaterials for preserving the follicles during the study. They hope, in time, that they can refine techniques that will produce even better results. In fact, in the future, they believe that ovarian follicles could be extracted and preserved till a woman is ready to pursue pregnancy.

More information regarding the study can be found here. 

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