Fertility preservation in boys facing gonadotoxic cancer therapy.

Patient survival following childhood cancer has increased with contemporary radiation and chemotherapy techniques. However, gonadotoxicity associated with treatments means that infertility is a common consequence in survivors. Novel fertility preservation options are emerging, but knowledge about these options amongst urologists and other medical professionals is lacking. Pre-pubertal boys generally do not produce haploid germ cells. Thus, strategies for fertility preservation require cryopreservation of tissue containing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Few centres worldwide routinely offer this option and fertility restoration (including testicular tissue engraftment, autotransplantation of SSCs and in vitro maturation of SSCs to spermatozoa) post-thaw is experimental. In pubertal boys, the main option for fertility preservation is masturbation and cryopreservation of the ejaculate. Assisted ejaculation using penile vibratory stimulation or electroejaculation and surgical sperm retrieval can be used in a sequential manner after failed masturbation. Physicians should inform boys and parents about the gonadotoxic effects of cancer treatment and offer fertility preservation. Preclinical experience has identified challenges in pre-pubertal fertility preservation, but available options are expected to be successful when today's pre-pubertal boys with cancer become adults. By contrast, fertility preservation in pubertal boys is clinically proven and should be offered to all patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Evaluation of a re-engineered device for penile vibratory stimulation in men with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a re-engineered device (Ferticare 2.0), which is replacing the previous standard (Ferticare 1.0) for penile vibratory stimulation in men with spinal cord injury. Most men with spinal cord injury are anejaculatory, requiring medical assistance to obtain their semen. Penile vibratory stimulation is generally recognized as the standard of care for semen retrieval in these anejaculatory men. SETTING: Major Research University in Miami, Florida, USA. METHODS: The Ferticare 2.0 device was applied to 15 men with spinal cord injury in a three-step protocol simulating normal use. Step 1: one device (2.5 mm amplitude, 100 Hz) was applied to the glans penis for 2 min. Step 2: If no ejaculation occurred, the amplitude was increased to 4.0 mm (100 Hz) and the device similarly applied. Step 3: If no ejaculation occurred, two devices, each 2.5 mm and 100 Hz were applied to the dorsum and frenulum of the glans penis. Participants at risk for autonomic dysreflexia were pretreated with sublingual nifedipine (20 mg), 15 min prior to stimulation. Blood pressure and other symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia were monitored. Participants answered a questionnaire about their experience with the device. RESULTS: Thirteen of 15 participants ejaculated with the device. No adverse events occurred. All participants commented they would recommend the device to other men with spinal cord injury. CONCLUSIONS: A re-engineered device, the Ferticare 2.0, is safe and effective for inducing ejaculation in men with spinal cord injury.

Hormone naïve metastatic prostate cancer: How to treat it?

OBJECTIVES: Recent landmark studies (GETUG-AFU 15, CHAARTED, STAMPEDE (docetaxel), LATITUDE and STAMPEDE (abiraterone)) have changed the treatment of hormone sensitive metastatic prostate cancer (mHSPC) from androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) only to combined therapy with either docetaxelor abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) together with ADT. In this Review we highlight current evidence and recommendations on how to treat men with newly diagnosed mHSPC beyond ADT. METHODS: Narrative overview of available evidence retrieved from pubmed searches, hand searches and authoritative texts. RESULTS: Docetaxel or AAP in combination with ADT improves overall survival (OS) in men fit for combined treatment presenting with newly diagnosed mHSPC. The strongest evidence is for men with high volume mHSPC (four or more bone metastases with at least one outside the axial skeleton and/or visceral metastases) or mHSPC with high risk features (A minimum of two out of three following high-risk features: Gleason score ≥ 8, ≥ 3 bone lesions or visceral metastasis) as per CHAARTED and LATITUDE criteria, respectively. While upfront docetaxel and AAP yield comparable OS improvement, docetaxel has not been shown to increase OS specifically for men with low volume/low risk mHSPC, whereas, a recent post-hoc analysis from the STAMPEDE (abiraterone) trial showed consistent overall survival benefit of AAP plus ADT independent of risk stratification. While these data are limited by their retrospective nature, they do suggest that patients with low-risk mHSPC should be offered AAP. In men with high volume/high risk mHSPC, choosing between six-cycles of docetaxel or AAP until disease progression relies on patient preference, cost and individual assessment of which drug side-effect profile is most suitable. CONCLUSION: Offer men presenting with newly diagnosed mHSPC fit enough for combined therapy either ADT plus docetaxel or AAP.

OBJETIVOS: Estudios de referencia recientes (GETUG-AFU 15, CHAARTED, STAMPEDE (docetaxel), LATITUDE y STAMPEDE (abiraterone)) han cambiado el tratamiento del cáncer de próstata hormonosensible metastásico (CPHSm) de la terapia de deprivación androgénica sola a la terapia combinada bien con docetaxel o abiraterona acetato y prednisona junto con deprivación androgénica. En esta revisión, destacamos la evidencia actual y recomendaciones sobrecómo tratar a los hombres con CPHSm de reciente diagnóstico más allá de la deprivación androgénica.MÉTODOS: Repaso narrativo de la evidencia disponible obtenida por busquedas en PubMed, búsquedas manuales y textos fidedignos. RESULTADOS: Docetaxel o abiraterona más prednisona en combinación con deprivación androgénica mejoran  la supervivencia global (SG) en pacientes adecuados para tratamiento combinado que presentan un CPHSm de reciente diagnóstico. La mejor evidencia es en varones con CPHSm de alto volumen (cuatro o más metástasis óseas con al menos una fuera del esqueleto axialy/o metástasis viscerales) o CPHSm con características de alto riesgo (un mínimo de dos de las tres siguientes características de alto riesgo: Puntuación de Gleason≥ 8, ≥ 3 lesiones óseas o metástasis viscerales) según los criterios de CHAARTED y LATITUDE respectivamente. Aunque docetaxel inicial y abiraterona más prednisona ofrecen una mejora comparable de la supervivenciaglobal, docetaxel no ha demostrado que mejore la supervivencia global específicamente en hombres con CPHSm de bajo volumen/bajo riesgo; mientras que un reciente análisis post-Hoc del estudio STAMPEDE (Abiraterona) mostró un beneficio consistente en supervivencia global de abiraterona más prednisona junto con deprivación androgénica independientemente de la estratificación por riesgo. Aunque estos datos están limitados por su naturaleza retrospectiva, sugieren que a los pacientes con CPHSm de bajo riesgo debería ofrecérseles abiraterona más prednisona. En varones con CPHSm de alto volumen/alto riesgo, elegir entre seis ciclos de docetaxel o abiraterona-prednisona hastaque la enfermedad progrese se basa en la preferencia del paciente, el coste y la evaluación individual sobre qué perfil de efectos colaterales farmacológicos es más adecuado. CONCLUSIONES: Ofrecer terapia de deprivación andrógénica con docetaxel o abiraterona + prednisona a los pacientes que presentan un CPHSm de recientediagnóstico.

[Surgical testicular extraction of spermatozoa in men with non-obstructive azoospermia].

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe form of male infertility. The only option to help men with NOA to become biological fathers is to surgically extract spermatozoa from the testicles, and in this review different modalities are discussed. Microdissection testicular sperm extraction seems to achieve better sperm retrieval rates compared with both testicular sperm aspiration and testicular sperm extraction. However, there are significant limitations in the current literature, and without prospective randomised trials it is not possible to define the optimal sperm retrieval technique for the management of NOA.

Parental Acceptance Rate of Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation in Danish Boys with Cryptorchidism.

Despite orchidopexy within the first year of life, 20-25% of boys with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism may risk infertility according to histological and hormonal data obtained during surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance rate of testicular tissue cryopreservation among parents of prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism. Fourteen boys with cryptorchidism and high infertility risk were offered cryopreservation as an additional procedure after orchidopexy based on abnormal histopathological findings at primary surgery, whereas 27 boys with bilateral cryptorchidism were offered cryopreservation at the initial orchidopexy. A total of 90% of parents (37/41, 13/14, and 24/27) gave consent to perform cryopreservation, despite being well-informed that the procedural efficacy is largely unproven and may only be needed in about 20% of cases. The number of germ cells per tubule cross-section was 0.03-1.70 (median 0.37) and 22 boys (54%, 22/41) had a value below the lower range. Twelve boys (29%, 12/41) had no type A dark spermatogonia in their biopsy. Cryopreservation of testicular tissue is the first step to introduce spermatogonial stem cell-based therapy into clinical male infertility treatment. At the time of orchidopexy, a testicular biopsy can be collected to ascertain the infertility risk, and it may be an option for boys with bilateral cryptorchidism to have spermatogonial stem cells frozen as a fertility reserve.

[Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadism in men with prostate cancer].

Hypogonadism and prostate cancer (PCa) often coincide with increasing age. Recent reviews have found no evidence to suggest an increased risk of developing PCa with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). The same lack of PCa risk is found in studies looking at men receiving TRT after radical prostatectomy for PCa. Reports on TRT in men on active surveillance are very few. In summary, current evidence does not support an association between TRT and an increased risk of PCa. Nevertheless, sufficiently powered trials with longer follow-up are warranted before making final conclusions.

[An active sex life is possible for men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer]. / Et aktivt sexliv kan være muligt under kastrationsbehandling for avanceret prostatacancer.

Sexual function is diminished in the majority of men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. However, about 20% seem to retain some degree of libido and erectile function. In addition, the intimacy of sexual relations is important for many couples. Therefore, sexuality should be addressed when patients express an interest in this. In some men, erections can be re-established with normal erectogenic aids. Others will benefit from counselling on alternative sexual practices. The goal should be to make the couple as satisfied as possible with their situation.

Optimizing human semen cryopreservation by reducing test vial volume and repetitive test vial sampling.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate optimal test vial (TV) volume, utility and reliability of TVs, intermediate temperature exposure (-88°C to -93°C) before cryostorage, cryostorage in nitrogen vapor (VN2) and liquid nitrogen (LN2), and long-term stability of VN2 cryostorage of human semen. DESIGN: Prospective clinical laboratory study. SETTING: University assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratory. PATIENT(S): A total of 594 patients undergoing semen analysis and cryopreservation. INTERVENTION(S): Semen analysis, cryopreservation with different intermediate steps and in different volumes (50-1,000 µL), and long-term storage in LN2 or VN2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Optimal TV volume, prediction of cryosurvival (CS) in ART procedure vials (ARTVs) with pre-freeze semen parameters and TV CS, post-thaw motility after two- or three-step semen cryopreservation and cryostorage in VN2 and LN2. RESULT(S): Test vial volume of 50 µL yielded lower CS than other volumes tested. Cryosurvival of 100 µL was similar to that of larger volumes tested. An intermediate temperature exposure (-88°C to -93°C for 20 minutes) during cryopreservation did not affect post-thaw motility. Cryosurvival of TVs and ARTVs from the same ejaculate were similar. Cryosurvival of the first TV in a series of cryopreserved ejaculates was similar to and correlated with that of TVs from different ejaculates within the same patient. Cryosurvival of the first TV was correlated with subsequent ARTVs. Long-term cryostorage in VN2 did not affect CS. CONCLUSION(S): This study provides experimental evidence for use of a single 100 µL TV per patient to predict CS when freezing multiple ejaculates over a short period of time (<10 days). Additionally, semen cryostorage in VN2 provides a stable and safe environment over time.