Semen quality in acute leukemia patients: a retrospective study

Among the cancer types that commonly affect men of reproductive age there are leukemias. In literature, little is known about the correlation between semen quality and acute leukemia. It could be assumed that the disease may evoke a systemic response mediated by cytokines secreted by tumor cells, which may have an impact on semen parameters. Significant advances in survival rates due to new therapeutic strategies have focused attention on fatherhood and fertility preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate semen quality of patients with acute leukemia before chemotherapy. We also evaluated semen parameters after therapy in a subgroup of patients and we collected fertility information. Finally, we collected information about the feasibility of the semen cryopreservation and evaluated any shifts in the approach to fertility preservation in these patients. A retrospective study was conducted, and it included the collection of data related to: semen analysis, information related to paternity desire and childbearing, number of cryopreservations performed over the years and the feasibility of the procedure. The median semen characteristics of these patients were above the 25° percentile, before cancer treatment. After therapies, an increase of the percentage of azoospermic at one year of follow-up can be observed. Four patients succeeded in achieving fatherhood through at least one cycle of assisted reproductive technology. These results allow us to recommend increased awareness among onco-hematologists about cryopreservation of semen for acute leukemia patients to ensure that they can become parents in the future and face the treatment course with greater confidence.