Fertility Saved in Cervical Cancer Patients
Reported November 11, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — A new surgery for women being treated for cervical cancer may protect fertility and stave off ovarian failure.In the procedure, surgeons removed an ovary and transplanted it into the upper arm to preserve hormonal function in women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer. The surgery required very little additional operating time.The second successful human ovarian autotransplant in the world is explained in the latest issue of CANCER. Created by researchers from Leiden University Hospital in the Netherlands, the new technique does not require developing a donor site with an implant over several months. It uses a donor site that is easily accessible to noninvasive monitoring and has adequate blood flow.By clinical exams and ultrasound monitoring, researchers found that ovarian cycles remained regular and follicle growth occurred normally for more than a year.According to the study, treatment for cervical cancer, including high-dose pelvic radiation and chemotherapy, improves survival and cure rates but it can also cause permanent ovarian failure. That failure can be a severe blow to a patients quality of life especially since cervical cancer is diagnosed during reproductive years.Investigators conclude that ovarian autotransplantation will likely be a realistic goal for cervical cancer patients but they suggest a longer follow-up to their study to determine the variability and viability of the transplanted ovary.
SOURCE: CANCER, published online Nov. 8, 2004
