New hope for women left infertile after chemo

WOMEN made infertile by chemotherapy could regain the ability to have babies.

Scientists have discovered a way to bring ovaries back to life after they have been damaged by cancer treatment.

The technique offers millions of infertile cancer patients hope that they could one day start a family. It might also be able to restore fertility to women hit by early menopause.

Experts said the treatment had ‘phenomenal’ potential – and that if it could be made available to patients it would be a huge step forward.

More than 20,000 women of childbearing age are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK.

Until recently, oncologists focused on beating the illness at all costs. But with survival rates better than ever, experts are now looking at ways to improve quality of life for patients who will be alive for many more years.

The inventors of the new procedure have shown that it works in mice, and hope to start trials in humans.

The team, from the Medical College of Georgia in the US, used stem cells from bone marrow to rejuvenate the damaged ovaries of six mice which had undergone chemotherapy.

Stem cells are ‘blank’ cells capable of being reprogrammed to transform into any cell in the body, meaning they can replace damaged tissue.

The scientists reprogrammed them to repair the follicles in the ovaries, which are vital for producing eggs.

The researchers, who presented their results to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s annual conference in Baltimore, said the treated mice had increased their number of follicles within two weeks.

They started ovulating again, and later went on to have healthy babies. Currently, younger women with can- cer can freeze their eggs or start IVF before having chemotherapy.

But these options rely on action being taken before treatment is started – and thousands of women miss out because doctors want to start chemotherapy as quickly as possible. Fertility experts last night said the research, although at a very early stage, was an exciting step forward.

Dr Geoffrey Trew, of Imperial College London, said it was ‘promising’, adding: ‘It also may be able to improve egg quality and reduce miscarriage risk.’

Dr Edgar Mocanu, consultant gynaecologist at Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, added: ‘This could open phenomenal opportunities for women.’