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Is transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from patients with advanced-stage breast cancer safe? A pilot study

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the safety of reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from advanced-stage breast cancer patients.

Methods

Cryopreserved ovarian cortical fragments were obtained from 13 advanced-stage breast cancer patients aged 17–35 years. After thawing, part of the ovarian cortical tissue was grafted to severe combined immunodeficient mice for 6 months. The presence of malignant mammary cells in ovarian tissue was evaluated after thawing as well as after grafting by 1) histology and immunohistochemistry (epithelial membrane antigen, Her2/neu and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 identification), and 2) detection of the MGB2 gene by qPCR.

Results

No malignant cells were evidenced by histology and immunohistochemistry. None of the mice died during the 6-month grafting period, nor developed macroscopically visible masses. MGB2 gene expression was detected by qPCR and confirmed by sequencing in frozen-thawed ovarian tissue in 4 cases and in grafts in 1 case.

Conclusions

This pilot study is the first to evaluate the risk of contamination of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from advanced-stage breast cancer patients by xenotransplantation for 6 months to immunodeficient mice, associated with more conventional screening methods. Our xenografting results are reassuring, but caution needs to be exercised, as MGB2 gene expression was detected in some cases. Larger numbers of ovarian tissue samples from patients with advanced-stage breast cancer are required to confirm our findings before ovarian tissue transplantation can be contemplated in these patients.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (Grant Télévie n°7.4507.10, grant 3.4.590.08), the Fondation St Luc, the Foundation Against Cancer, and the Centre du Cancer, and donations from Mr Pietro Ferrero, Baron Albert Frère and Viscount Philippe de Spoelberch.

The authors thank Mira Hryniuk for reviewing the English language of the manuscript and Dolores Gonzalez for her technical assistance. They also thank the biobank for providing samples of breast tumors and normal ovarian fragments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

    V. Luyckx, A. Camboni, S. Gilliaux, C. A. Amorim, A. Van Langendonckt & M. M. Dolmans

  2. Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

    J. F. Durant, L. M. Irenge & J. L. Gala

  3. Defense Laboratories Department, ACOS Ops&Trg, Belgian Armed Forces, Peutie, Belgium

    L. M. Irenge & J. L. Gala

  4. Infertility Research Unit, Société de Recherche pour l’Infertilité (SRI), Brussels, Belgium

    J. Donnez

  5. Service de Gynécologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium

    M. M. Dolmans

  6. Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Avenue Mounier 52 bte B1.52.02, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    M. M. Dolmans

Authors
  1. V. Luyckx
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  2. J. F. Durant
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  3. A. Camboni
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  4. S. Gilliaux
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  5. C. A. Amorim
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  6. A. Van Langendonckt
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  7. L. M. Irenge
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  8. J. L. Gala
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  9. J. Donnez
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  10. M. M. Dolmans
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Dolmans.

Additional information

Capsule Cryopreserved ovarian tissue from advance-stage breast cancer patients is potentially unsafe for transplantation.

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Luyckx, V., Durant, J.F., Camboni, A. et al. Is transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from patients with advanced-stage breast cancer safe? A pilot study. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 1289–1299 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0065-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0065-3

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