A study of children, fathered by men treated for testicular cancer, conceived before, during, and after chemotherapy

Abstract

One hundred fifty children of 113 fathers with testicular tumour treated from 1979 on the National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, were studied. Three groups were formed on the basis of the time of conception; 69 children were born before the illness of the fathers, 40 during the 12 pretreatment months, and 41 during or after combined chemotherapy. One hundred fifty control children underwent tonsillectomy/appendectomy, but were otherwise healthy. They were matched according to age, sex, and place of inhabitance with index children. Family anamnesis, perinatal, and gestational data were listed; thereafter, physical, laboratory, immunological, and, if required, radiological examinations were made. No difference was detectable in the somatic and psychiatric status of the three groups, and development was well balanced, corresponding to age. Protocols of the combined chemotherapy applied, and the incidence of anomalies, abnormalities, malignancies, and other diseases was recorded. Incidence was similar in all three groups. Incidence of congenital malformations was not increased in children conceived before and after therapy; however, a complex congenital abnormality, an atrial septal defect with horseshoe kidney, occurred in one young girl, conceived after the end of her father's treatment. The interval between conception and the end of therapy was established in the case of children conceived either during or after therapy. This was shorter in the case of healthy children; the number of healthy children conceived during cytostatic treatment was also remarkable. Further detailed analysis of data and individual evaluation of case reports are recommended.

A survey of oncologists regarding sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive techniques for male cancer patients

“…26 -28 In addition, it has also been shown that patients with cancer both before and after treatment have no higher risk of having children with congenital defects. 15,29,30 Nonetheless, caution is needed; a recent study has shown a fivefold increase of hypospadias among males that were conceived through IVF. 31 Further study of the correlation between congenital defects and ART is still warranted.…”

Increased predisposition to cancer in brothers and offspring of testicular tumor patients

“…Previously we 17,18 and others 19,20 found no evidence of elevation in the occurrence of congenital abnormalities in the offspring born either before or after the father's diagnosis or treatment. As regards childhood tumors occurring below 18 years of age, only scanty or indirect data exist, [21][22][23] which show generally no increased risk of childhood tumors.…”

Fatherhood Following Treatment for Testicular Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

“…Initially, 344 publications were searched from databases and other resources. After screening potentially eligible studies, 27 studies 13,30,32,33,35,38,39,41,43,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] met the inclusion criteria and full texts were subsequently retrieved. The studies included: three retrospective review studies (11.11%) 38,54,58 ; one prospective study (3.7%), 33 seven cohort studies (25.93%), 13,49,56,57,60,62,64 four questionnaire studies (14.81%), 47,48,50,59 three medical record review studies (11.11%), 32,35,51 seven medical review and questionnaire studies (25.93%), 30,39,52,<...>…”

“…The studies included: three retrospective review studies (11.11%) 38,54,58 ; one prospective study (3.7%), 33 seven cohort studies (25.93%), 13,49,56,57,60,62,64 four questionnaire studies (14.81%), 47,48,50,59 three medical record review studies (11.11%), 32,35,51 seven medical review and questionnaire studies (25.93%), 30,39,52,53,55,61,63 one cross-sectional study (3.7%), 41 and one registry study (3.7%). 43 Most studies were conducted in Europe (n = 15, 55.56%), 13,30,32,38,39,41,43,48,50,[56][57][58][59][60]62 followed by The Americas (n = 8, 29.63%), 33,49,[51][52][53][54]…”

“…35 Table 1 highlights study characteristic, including TC treatment details, for each of the 27 included studies. 13,30,32,33,35,38,39,41,43,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] The study population consisted of 6439 males. 13,30,32,33,35,38,39,41,43,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60...…”