Researchers from the Mansoura Medical School in Egypt have shown that reversing infertility after cancer using stem cells is possible. The researchers injected stem cells directly into the ovaries of mice in an attempt to repair damage done by chemotherapy drugs and saw some remarkable results.
Women who undergo chemotherapy treatments to cure their cancer can become infertile because the ovaries are damaged by chemo drugs. The chemicals used in chemotherapy treatments are toxic to the ovaries, destroying tissue and eggs. Infertility experts suggest that this breakthrough could potentially lead to a treatment that restores the fertility of thousands of women.
Doctors advise young women who are about to undergo chemotherapy to preserve some eggs. Unfortunately many types of cancer require urgent treatment and there is no time for some women to preserve their eggs. Researchers are hoping that the successful animal trials may quickly lead to human trials and a viable treatment for chemotherapy-induced infertility.
There are approximately 20,000 women of child bearing age who receive a cancer diagnosis each year. The treatment may also have some other applications including women with ovarian failure or early menopause.
The mice used in the trial were given chemotherapy drugs, then separated into two groups — one given group given human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the other group given a saline solution. The mice given stem cells saw remarkable levels of improvement in their fertility.
Lead researcher Dr Sara Mohamed decided to explore the ability of stem cells to cure infertility after meeting a young woman who had been made infertile by cancer treatments.
Dr Mohamed described the process used in the trial, saying “We inject stem cells in the ovaries of mice which had chemotherapy and were damaged and we got very good ovarian function restoration in form of follicle number, hormonal production and finally getting pregnant and having new pups which was our ultimate goal.”
Ovarian follicles play a very important role in fertility, producing oestrogen that is essential for ovulation. Once the follicles are damaged by chemotherapy, they do not have the ability to regenerate without the help of stem cells.
The mice who received the stem cells even managed to become pregnant and have large litters of pups. Reversing infertility after cancer using stem cells is an exciting breakthrough that could change the lives of thousands of women around the world.
Source: Stem cell breakthrough reverses infertility after cancer
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