About this Research Topic

Background

Advances in cancer treatment have led to increased survival rates among women diagnosed with cancer. However, many cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions, can lead to premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Oncofertility, has become a crucial component of cancer care for women of reproductive age who wish to retain their fertility potential after treatment. The need for effective fertility preservation methods has risen in recent years, with a growing number of female cancer survivors seeking options to maintain their reproductive capabilities. Current fertility preservation methods, such as oocyte, embryo or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, have demonstrated varying degrees of success. However, challenges remain in optimizing these techniques for different types of cancer, treatment regimens, and patient demographics. Furthermore, long-term reproductive outcomes, including the success rates of pregnancy and live birth after fertility preservation, are still not fully understood, especially in female cancer survivors who may experience altered hormonal environments.

This research topic aims to explore innovative strategies in fertility preservation, with a focus on developing new approaches that may improve the reproductive outcomes of female cancer survivors. In addition, the proposal will provide critical insights into the long-term fertility prospects and reproductive health after cancer treatment, with a particular focus on improving success rates and ensuring the safety of fertility preservation techniques. Specifically, the proposal will, among others:
i) evaluate the effectiveness of existing fertility preservation techniques (oocyte cryopreservation, embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation), assessing success rates, risks and long-term reproductive outcomes;
ii) investigate innovative strategies for fertility preservation, including advances in in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes, gonadal tissue cryopreservation and novel pharmacological interventions to preserve ovarian function;
iii) Evaluate the impact of cancer treatment types (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery) on ovarian reserve and reproductive potential, with a focus on assessing age-related factors and variations in response to different oncological therapies;
iv) Investigate the psychological, social and ethical aspects of fertility preservation decisions in cancer patients, including how these factors influence patients' choices and long-term well-being;
v) Investigate long-term reproductive outcomes, including pregnancy success rates, live birth outcomes and the safety of fertility restoration techniques in this population.

This Proposal aims to provide critical insights into oncofertility in female cancer survivors, particularly by evaluating existing methods and exploring innovative strategies to improve reproductive outcomes. By advancing fertility preservation techniques and understanding the psychosocial and medical factors that influence these decisions, this Proposal will contribute to enhancing the quality of life and reproductive health for cancer survivors, offering them hope for future family-building opportunities. Expected outcomes will be: i) Improved understanding of the efficacy and long-term outcomes of fertility preservation methods; ii) Identification of novel strategies to enhance fertility preservation success rates; iii) Comprehensive data on long-term reproductive outcomes, including pregnancy rates, live birth outcomes, and potential risks associated with fertility restoration techniques; iv) Insights into psychological and social factors that impact the decision-making process and reproductive outcomes for patients; v) Guidelines for personalized fertility preservation approaches, tailored to the cancer type, age, and treatment plan of the patient.

Keywords: cancer survivor; cryopreservation; fertility preservation; oncofertility; infertility; reproductive medicine

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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