Effects of Chemotherapy on Aneuploidy Rates in Sperm from Male Patients with Testicular Cancer or Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma are prevalent malignancies among young males aged 20 to 39. The incidence of testicular cancer and lymphoma has risen in recent years, with orchiectomy often followed by adjuvant chemotherapy as the primary treatment for testicular cancer and chemotherapy for lymphoma. Chemotherapy has been associated with an increased risk of aneuploidy and reduced fertility. Method: This systematic review included seven studies, both case–control and longitudinal prospective designs, from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The screening process was conducted using the online tool covidence.org. Results: The study outcomes indicate varied impacts of chemotherapy on aneuploidy rates. An increase in the aneuploidy rates, notably for the sex chromosomes, immediately post-treatment was a common trend, followed by a decline in pretreatment values. Conclusion: This systematic review presents the effects of chemotherapy on the aneuploidy rates of testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients, with a decrease post-treatment. The findings underscore the need for larger, well-designed studies with a longer study period.