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Review
. 2009 Aug;53(2):261-6.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.22004.

Male gonadal toxicity

Marvin L Meistrich  1
Affiliations
Review

Male gonadal toxicity

Marvin L Meistrich. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

Cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy causes gonadal toxicity in male patients. The endpoint of most concern for future reproductive options is the induction of prolonged azoospermia, which may or may not be reversible. The immediate effects of therapy and its reversibility are most readily observed in post-pubertal patients, but the same antineoplastic regimens given to prepubertal males can induce permanent azoospermia. The probability of permanent azoospermia is related to the specific agents used and their doses. The most damaging are alkylating agents (particularly chlorambucil, procarbazine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, and busulfan), cisplatin and radiation to the region of the testicles.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sequence of spermatogenic cells showing the cell morphology, kinetics, relative sensitivity to killing by anticancer agents, ability to accumulate and repair DNA damage, and sensitivity to induction of transmissible mutations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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