Genetic predisposition could have an important role in the pathogenesis of cancers in children and adolescents. A recent study by our group showed that, among female survivors of cancers in childhood and adolescence, the proportion of cases involving a possible genetic predisposition was sizable (at least one in five). Our sample is too small to be representative of the general population, but it gave us an opportunity to reappraise this issue. Women with a genetic predisposition can transmit the risk of cancer to their offspring, and their awareness of this may influence their reproductive and fertility preservation choices. In our experience, a predisposition to cancer receives little attention in the fertility counseling and decision‐making process unless a patient already has a definitive molecular diagnosis of a hereditary cancer syndrome. We feel it is essential to empower women on this issue, particularly as there are ways to overcome the problem, including preimplantation genetic testing (PGT‐M) in definitively diagnosed cases, egg donation and adoption. In the context of fertility counseling for survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence who have reached adulthood, the risk of transmitting a predisposition to cancer should be discussed with patients, if relevant and desired.
Fertility counseling in survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence: time for a reappraisal? / F. Filippi, F. Peccatori, S. Manoukian, C.A. Clerici, C. Dallagiovanna, C. Meazza, M. Podda, E. Somigliana, F. Spreafico, M. Massimino, M. Terenziani. - In: CANCERS. - ISSN 2072-6694. - 13:22(2021 Nov 10), pp. 5626.1-5626.6. [10.3390/cancers13225626]
Fertility counseling in survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence: time for a reappraisal?
C.A. Clerici;C. Dallagiovanna;E. Somigliana;
2021
Abstract
Genetic predisposition could have an important role in the pathogenesis of cancers in children and adolescents. A recent study by our group showed that, among female survivors of cancers in childhood and adolescence, the proportion of cases involving a possible genetic predisposition was sizable (at least one in five). Our sample is too small to be representative of the general population, but it gave us an opportunity to reappraise this issue. Women with a genetic predisposition can transmit the risk of cancer to their offspring, and their awareness of this may influence their reproductive and fertility preservation choices. In our experience, a predisposition to cancer receives little attention in the fertility counseling and decision‐making process unless a patient already has a definitive molecular diagnosis of a hereditary cancer syndrome. We feel it is essential to empower women on this issue, particularly as there are ways to overcome the problem, including preimplantation genetic testing (PGT‐M) in definitively diagnosed cases, egg donation and adoption. In the context of fertility counseling for survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence who have reached adulthood, the risk of transmitting a predisposition to cancer should be discussed with patients, if relevant and desired.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Filippi et al., Cancers 2021.pdf
accesso aperto
Tipologia:
Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione
214.24 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
214.24 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.