Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Oncofertility Fertility Preservation for Cancer Survivors pp 110–129Cite as

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation: Banking Reproductive Potential for the Future

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 138))

Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is a technology that holds promise for preserving reproductive potential for the future. It may be apropos for cancer survivors who will undergo treatment with sterility-inducing chemotherapy or radiation. Although there is some evidence suggesting cellular and molecular injury with the freezing and thawing process, there are examples in both animals and humans that transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue can lead to successful restoration of fertility. Currently, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is the only option available to preserve fertility in prepubertal girls or women who cannot delay their cancer treatment. For this patient population, ovarian tissue banking and subsequent transplantation is the only fertility-preserving method that has resulted in live-born pregnancies. The technology of ovarian tissue banking is currently at the forefront of the emerging field of oncofertilty.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Blatt J. Pregnancy outcome in long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol 1999;33:29–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Meirow D, Nugent D. The effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on female reproduction. Hum Reprod Update 2001;7:535–543.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Greenlee RT, Murray T, Bolden S, et al. Cancer statistics, 2000. CA Cancer J Clin 2000;50:7–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Meirow D. Ovarian injury and modern options to preserve fertility in female cancer patients treated with high dose radio-chemotherapy for hemato-oncological neoplasias and other cancer. Leuk Lymphoma 1999:33:65–76.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Meirow D. Epidemiology and infertility in cancer patients. In: Gosden R, Tulandi T, editors. Preservation of fertility. London: Taylor and Francis, 2004:21–38.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Koyama H, Wada T, Nishizawa Y, et al. Cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian failure and its therapeutic significance in patients with breast cancer. Cancer 1977;39:1403–1409.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldhirsch A, Gelber RD, Castiglione M. The magnitude of endocrine effects of adjuvant chemotherapy for premenopausal breast cancer patients. The International Breast Cancer Study Group. Ann Oncol 1990;1:183–188.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Chiarelli AM, Marrett LD, Darlington G. Early menopause and infertility in females after treatment for childhood cancer diagnosed in 1964–1988 in Ontario, Canada. Am J Epidemiol 1999;150:245–254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Falcone T, Attaran M, Bedaiwy M, et al. Ovarian function preservation in the cancer patient. Fertil Steril 2004;81:243–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wallace WH, Shalet SM, Hendry JH, et al. Ovarian failure following ovarian irradiation in childhood: the radiosensitivity of the human oocyte. Br J Radiol 1989;62:995–998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wallace WH, Thomson AB, Saran F, Kelsey TW. Predicting age of ovarian failure after radiation to a field that includes the ovaries. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005;62:738–744.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Critchley HOD, Wallace WHB, Shalet SM, et al. Abdominal irradiation in childhood: potential for pregnancy. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1992:99:392–394.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bath LE, Critchley HO, Chambers SE, et al. Ovarian and uterine characteristics after total body irradiation in childhood and adolescence: response to sex steroid replacement. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1999;106:1265–1272.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rappaport R, Brauner R, Czernichow P, et al. Effect of hypothalamic and pituitary irradiation on pubertal development in children with cranial tumors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982; 154:1164–1168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Davies HA, Didcock E, Didi M, et al. Growth, puberty and obesity after treatment for leukemia. Acta Paediatr Suppl 1995;411:45–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ogilvy-Stuart AL, Clayton PE, Shalet SM. Cranial irradiation and early puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;78:1282–1286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kwon JS, Case AM. Preserving reproductive function in women with cancer. Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause 2004;2(2):222–229. (A Publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine) http://www.srmjournal.org/home.

  18. Blumenfeld Z. Preservation of fertility and ovarian function and minimalization of chemotherapy associated gonadotoxicity and premature ovarian failure: the role of inhibin-A and–B as markers. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2002;187:93–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Revel A, Laufer N. Protecting female fertility from cancer therapy. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2002;187:83–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ataya K, Pydyn E, Ramahi-Ataya A, et al. Is radiation-induced ovarian failure in rhesus monkeys preventable by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists: preliminary observations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995;80:790–795.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ataya K, Rao LV, Lawrence E, et al. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist inhibits cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian follicular depletion in rhesus monkeys. Biol Reprod 1995;52:365–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Blumenfeld Z, Avivi I, Linn S, et al. Prevention of irreversible chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage in young women with lymphoma by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist in parallel to chemotherapy. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1620–1626.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Waxman JH, Ahmed R, Smith D, et al. Failure to preserve fertility in patients with Hodgkin’s disease. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 1987;19:159–162.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Oktay K, Cil AP, Bang H. Efficiency of oocyte cryopreservation: a meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 2006;86:70–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Porcu E, Fabbri R, Damiano G, et al. Clinical experience and applications of oocyte cryopreservation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2000;169:33–37.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Fabbri R, Porcu E, Marsella T, et al. Human oocyte cryopreservation: new perspectives regarding oocyte survival. Hum Reprod 2001;16:411–416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Borini A, Bonu MA, Coticchio G, et al. Pregnancies and births after oocyte cryopreservation. Fert Steril 2004;82:601–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Eppig J, O’Brien M. Development in vitro of mouse oocytes from primordial follicles. Biol Reprod 1996;54:197–207.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Cha KY, Chung HM, Lim JM, et al. Freezing immature oocytes. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2000;169:43–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Parrott JA, Skinner MK. Direct actions of kit-ligand on theca cell growth and differentiation during follicle development. Endocrinology 1997;138:3819–3827.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Elvin JA, Yan C, Wang P, et al. Molecular characterization of the follicle defects in growth differentiation factor 9-deficient ovary. Mol Endocrinol 1999;13:1018–1034.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Nilsson E, Parrott JA, Skinner MK. Basic fibroblast growth factor induces primordial follicle development and initiates folliculogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2001;175:123–123.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Otsuka F, Moore RK, Shimasaki S. Biological function and cellular mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein-6 in the ovary. J Biol Chem 2001;276:32889–32895.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Nilsson EE, Kezele P, Skinner MK. Leukemia inhibitory factor promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition in rat ovaries. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2002;188:65–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Yoon S, Kim K, Chung H, et al. Gene expression profiling of early follicular development in primordial, primary and secondary follicles. Fert Steril 2006;85:193–203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Gougeon A. Regulation of ovarian follicular development in primates: facts and hypotheses. Endo Rev 1996;17:121–155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Zeleznik AJ. The physiology of follicle selection. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2004;2:31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kreeger PK, Fernandes NN, Woodruff TK, et al. Regulation of mouse follicle development by follicle-stimulating hormone in a three-dimensional in vitro culture system is dependent on follicle stage and dose. Biol Reprod 2005;73:942–950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kreeger PK, Deck JW, Woodruff TK, et al. The in vitro regulation of ovarian follicle development using alginate-extracellular matrix gels. Biomaterials 2006;27:714–723.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Pangas SA, Saudye H, Shea LD, et al. Novel approach for the three-dimensional culture of granulosa cell-oocyte complexes. Tissue Eng. 2003;9:1013–1021.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Xu M, West E, Shea LD, et al. Identification of a stage-specific permissive in vitro culture environment for follicle growth and oocyte development. Biol Reprod 2006;75:916–923.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Xu M, Kreeger PK, Shea LD, et al. Tissue-engineered follicles produce live, fertile offspring. Tissue Eng 2006;12:2739–2746.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Oktay K, Nugent D, Newton H, et al. Isolation and characterization of primordial follicles from fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian tissue. Fert Steril 1997;67:481–486.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Gosden RG, Baird DT, Wade JC, et al. Restoration of fertility to oophorectomized sheep by ovarian autografts stored at–196 degrees C. Hum Reprod 1994;9:597–603.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Yeoman RR, Wolf DP, Lee DM. Co-culture of monkey ovarian tissue increases survival after vitrification and slow-rate freezing. Fert Steril 2005;83:1248–1254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Deanesly R. Immature rat ovaries grafted after freezing and thawing. J Endocrinol 1954;11:197–200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Parkes A, Smith, AU. Preservation of ovarian tissue at–79 Degrees C for transplantation. Acta Endocrinol 1954;17:313–320.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Parrot D. The fertility of mice with orthotopic ovarian grafts derived from frozen tissue. J Reprod Fertil 1960;1:230–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Oktay K, Aydin B, Karlikaya G. A technique for laparoscopic transplantation of frozen-banked ovarian tissue. Fertil Steril 2001;75:1212–1216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Donnez J, Dolmans MM, Demylle D, et al. Livebirth after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Lancet 2004;364:1405–1410.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Silber SJ, Lenahan KM, Levine DJ, et al. Ovarian transplantation between monozygotic twins discordant for premature ovarian failure. New Engl J Med 2005;353:58–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Oktay K, Economos K, Kan M, et al. Endocrine function and oocyte retrieval after autologous transplantation of ovarian cortical strips to the forearm. J Am Med Assoc 2001;286:1490–1493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Lee DM, Yeoman R, Battaglia DE, et al. Birth of a monkey after heterotopic transplantation of fresh ovarian tissue and assisted reproduction. Nature 2004;428:137–138.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Harp R, Leibach J, Black J, et al. Cryopreservation of murine ovarian tissue. Cryobiology 1994;31:336–343.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Sztein J, Sweet H, Farley J, et al. Cryopreservation and orthotopic transplantation of mouse ovaries: New approach in gamete banking. Biol Reprod 1998;58:1071–1074.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Schnorr JA OS, Toner JP, Hsiu JG, Willams RF, Hodgen GD. Fresh and cryopreserved extrapelvic ovarian transplantation in non-human primates: folliculogenesis, ovulation, corpus luteum function, endometrial development, and menstrual patterns. Abstract presented at: the American Society of Reproductive Medicine 2000 Annual Meeting; October 21–26, 2000; San Diego, California.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Gougeon A, Ecochard R, Thalabard JC. Age-related changes of the population of human ovarian follicles: increase in the disappearance rate of non-growing and early-growing follicles in aging women. Biol Reprod 1994;50:653–663.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Gougeon A. Ovarian follicular growth in humans: ovarian ageing and population of growing follicles. Maturitas 1998;30:137–142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Oktay K, Karlikaya G. Ovarian function after transplantation of frozen, banked autologous ovarian tissue. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1919.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Radford JA, Lieberman BA, Brison DR, et al. Orthotopic reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortical strips after high-dose chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lancet 2001;357:1172–1175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Oktay K, Buyuk E, Veeck L, et al. Embryo development after heterotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Lancet 2004;363:837–840.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Meirow D, Levron J, Eldar-Geva T, et al. Pregnancy after transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in a patient with ovarian failure after chemotherapy. New Eng J Med 2005;355:318–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Demeestere I, Simon P, Buxant F, et al. Ovarian function and spontaneous pregnancy after combined heterotopic and orthotopic cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation in a patient previously treated with bone marrow transplantation: case report. Hum Reprod 2006;21:2010–2014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Leporrier M, von Theobald P, Roffe JL, et al. A new technique to protect ovarian function before pelvic irradiation. Heterotopic ovarian autotransplantation. Cancer 1987;60:2201–2204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Wang X, Chen H, Yin HK, et al. Fertility after intact ovary transplantation. Nature 2002; 415:385.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Bedaiwy MA, Jeremias E, Gurunluogly R, et al. Restoration of ovarian function after autotransplantation of intact frozen-thawed sheep ovaries with microvascular anastomosis. Fertil Steril 2003;79:594–602.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Imhof M, Bergmeister H, Lipovac M, et al. Orthotopic microvascular re-anastomosis of whole cryopreserved ovine ovaries resulting in pregnancy and life birth. Fertil Steril 2006; 85(Suppl 1):1208–1215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Shaw JM, Bowles J, Koopman P, et al. Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian tissue from donors with lymphoma, transmit the cancer to graft recipients. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1668–1673.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Kim SS, Hwang IT, Lee HC. Heterotopic autotransplantation of cryobanked human ovarian tissue as a strategy to restore ovarian function. Fertil Steril 2004;82:930–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Sonmezer M, Shamonki MI, Oktay K. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation: benefits and risks. Cell Tissue Res 2005;322:125–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Lee DM, Yeoman RR, Yu T, et al. Sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibits apoptosis in rhesus monkey ovarian tissue in vitro and may improve reproductive function in xenografts. 2005 Joint American Society for Reproductive Medicine/Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Meeting, Oct. 15–19, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. Fertil Steril 2005;84(Suppl 1):S2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Gunasena KT, Lakey JR, Villines PM, et al. Allogeneic and xenogeneic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue to athymic mice. Biol Reprod 1997;57:226–231.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Snow M. Cox SL, Jenkin G, et al. Generation of live young from xenografted mouse ovaries. Science 2002;297:2227.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Weissman A, Gotlieb L, Colgan T, et al. Preliminary experience with subcutaneous human ovarian cortex transplantation in the NOD-SCID mouse. Biol Reprod 1999;60:1462–1467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Kim SS, Soules M, Gosden RG, et al. The evidence of follicle maturation and subsequent ovulation in human ovarian tissue xenografted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Fertil Steril 2000;74:S34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Nisolle M, Casanas-Roux F, Qu J, et al. Histologic and ultrastructural evaluation of fresh and frozen-thawed human ovarian xenografts in nude mice. Fert Steril 2000;74:122–129.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Oktay K, Newton H, Gosden RG. Transplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue results in follicle growth initiation in SCID mice. Fertil Steril 2000;73:599–603.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Lee K, Lee S, SJ Y, et al. Resumption of the human primordial follicle growth in xenografts after vitrification of the ovarian tissues. Fertil Steril 2000;74(3 Suppl 1):S214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Kim SS, Kang HG, Kim NH, et al. Assessment of the integrity of human oocytes retrieved from cryopreserved ovarian tissue after xenotransplantation. Hum Reprod 2005;20:2502–2508.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. David Lee MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern University, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA

    Teresa K. Woodruff PhD  & Karrie Ann Snyder PhD  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lee, D. (2007). Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation: Banking Reproductive Potential for the Future. In: Woodruff, T.K., Snyder, K.A. (eds) Oncofertility Fertility Preservation for Cancer Survivors. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 138. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72293-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72293-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-72292-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-72293-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation