Oncofertility Pharmacology
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
Onco-fertility is an emerging interdisciplinary field that combines oncology, reproductive medicine, and pharmacology to preserve fertility in cancer patients and survivors. With improvements in cancer treatment and survival rates, maintaining reproductive health has become an important component of survivorship care. This chapter highlights the significance and historical evolution of onco-fertility, along with the impact of cancer therapeutics on male and female fertility. This chapter discusses the historical evolution, clinical significance, and growing importance of onco-fertility in modern healthcare. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies, on male and female reproductive health. The chapter discusses the mechanisms of gonadotoxicity associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies. Cancer treatments can impair spermatogenesis, reduce ovarian reserve, induce hormonal imbalance, and cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis, ultimately leading to infertility. Particular emphasis is given to chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and its molecular link to reproductive dysfunction. Current fertility preservation strategies for both males and females are also reviewed, including sperm banking, oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue preservation, and testicular tissue cryopreservation. International guidelines, ethical considerations, financial burden, and challenges related to accessibility and awareness of onco-fertility services are discussed. In addition, the chapter explores future perspectives and recent advancements in oncofertility, such as stem cell therapy, nanotechnology-based approaches, precision medicine, and fertility-protective pharmacological interventions. Overall, this chapter emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and personalized fertility preservation strategies to improve reproductive outcomes and quality of life in cancer survivors.
Author Affiliations
- 1 Students, Department of Pharmaceutics, Sandip Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SIPS), Nashik, Maharashtra, India.