Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors of childhood cancers following assisted reproductive technologies

Sommerhäuser G, Borgmann-Staudt A, Astrahantseff K, Baust K, Calaminus G, Dittrich R, Fernández-González MJ, Hölling H, König CJ, Schilling R, Schuster T, Lotz L, Balcerek M (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Journal of Cancer Survivorship Springer

DOI: 10.1007/s11764-020-00929-0

Abstract

Purpose: An increasing number of childhood cancer survivors are using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to overcome treatment-related fertility impairment. We report perinatal and health outcomes of offspring born to survivors following ART. Methods: The FeCt Multicenter Offspring Study surveyed the health of offspring of childhood cancer survivors. Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors following ART (n = 57, 4.6%) or after spontaneous conception (n = 1182) were assessed in the German cohort (n = 1239) using bivariate analysis. Findings were put into the context of the general German population by health outcome assessment in 1:1 matched-pair analysis (n = 2478). Results: Nearly twice the survivors used ART compared with numbers reported for the German general population (4.6% vs. 2.6%). Successful pregnancies were achieved after a median of two cycles, mainly using non-cryopreserved oocytes/sperm. Multiple sibling births (p < 0.001, 28.1% vs. 3.0%) and low birth weight (p = 0.008; OR = 2.659, 95% CI = 1.258–5.621) occurred significantly more often in offspring born to survivors who utilized ART than spontaneously conceived children, whereas similar percentages were born preterm or too small for their gestational age. ART did not increase the prevalence of childhood cancer or congenital malformations in offspring born to survivors. Conclusion: ART use by childhood cancer survivors was successful with both fresh and cryopreserved oocytes/sperm, and did not influence perinatal health or health outcomes when known confounders were taken into account. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Oncofertility is an important component of patient care. Our study implicates that the utilization of ART by adult survivors of childhood cancer does not put offspring at additional risk for adverse perinatal or health outcomes.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ralf Dittrich Professur für Experimentelle Reproduktionsmedizin Laura Lotz Professur für Experimentelle Reproduktionsmedizin

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Bonn DE Germany (DE) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin DE Germany (DE) Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Sommerhäuser, G., Borgmann-Staudt, A., Astrahantseff, K., Baust, K., Calaminus, G., Dittrich, R.,... Balcerek, M. (2020). Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors of childhood cancers following assisted reproductive technologies. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-020-00929-0

MLA:

Sommerhäuser, Greta, et al. "Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors of childhood cancers following assisted reproductive technologies." Journal of Cancer Survivorship (2020).

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