Autologous Testicular Tissue Transplantation

Autologous Testicular Tissue Transplantation for Fertility Restoration

Freezing testicular tissue of prepubertal boys is a method for preserving spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in case of imminent gonadotoxic treatment during childhood. In case of total azoospermia in adulthood and presence of a childwish, the investigators intend to perform the first in men autologous testicular tissue transplantation to restore fertility.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hematologic Diseases; Cancer; Sickle Cell Thalassemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Autologous testicular tissue transplantation of prepubertal frozen testicular tissue

Detailed Description

Freezing testicular tissue of prepubertal boys is a method for preserving spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In 2002, the University hospital in Brussels (UZB) was the first hospital worldwide to offer testicular tissue cryobanking for fertility preservation in boys and ado-lescents. Since then, several other centers in Europe and USA have implemented similar fertility preservation programs. However, up till now, autologous transplantations of cryopreserved testicular tissue have not been performed yet.

As soon as a patient returns to the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at UZB with the request to transplant the preserved testicular tissue, the investigators will first analyse semen and blood. If spermatozoa are found in their semen, men can immediately enroll in standard care for natural conception, intra-uterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic injection (ICSI). However, in case no spermatozoa are found in the ejaculate or after performing a testicular biopsy (TESE), the investigators intend to propose and eventually perform autologous testicular tissue transplantation with the primary objective being to restore spermatogenesis and fertility.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 5
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Veerle Vloeberghs, MD; Phone Number: 003224776699; Email: veerle.vloeberghs@uzbrussel.be
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Herman Tournaye, MD PhD; Phone Number: 003224776699; Email: herman.tournaye@uzbrussel.be

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Brussels, Belgium, 1090
    • Recruiting
    • UZ Brussel Centre for Reproductive Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

The eligible patients opted as a prepubertal boy to enroll in the fertility preservation pro-gram and on the moment of cancer diagnosis or hematological disorder, their parents have agreed to cryopreserve testicular tissue for later autologous transplantation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years old
• Desire to become a parent at the moment of intake
• Stable relationship with a female partner and minimal one year cohabiting
• Age of female partner < 43 year
• Azoospermia on 2 semen analyses
• Normal standardised preliminary and preoperative bloodsampling results
• Complete remission of the oncological or hematological disease
• Approval of the treating oncologist or other specialist in case of non-oncological disease as reason for the testicular tissue preservation as a child
• Risk for presence of malignant cells in testicular tissue is negligible (according to multidisciplinary assessment)
• Presence of SSCs (positive MAGE staining) in one or two of the thawed fragments (If absence of SSCs in two of the thawed fragments, the case will be discussed multidisciplinary)
• Written informed consent for the transplantation of cryopreserved testicular tissue and follow-up after the procedure and of children born eventually after this procedure

Exclusion criteria:

• Risk for presence of malignant cells in the testicular tissue
• Contra-indication for surgery
• Contra-indication for pregnancy in the female partner
• BMI > 32
• Heavy smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day)
• Instable psychological condition

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Restoration of spermatogenesis and fertility by performing an autologous testicular tissue transplantation. Primary endpoint is the presence of spermatozoa in the graft.	Freezing testicular tissue of prepubertal boys is a method for preserving spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). If patient has a childwish on adult age and in case no spermatozoa are found in the ejaculate or after performing a testicular biopsy (TESE), we will perform autologous testicular tissue transplantation with the primary objective being to restore spermatogenesis and fertility. Grafting will be performed intra-testicular and intrascrotal for each patient. Grafts will be removed 12 months after grafting. Primary endpoint is the presence of spermatozoa in the grafted tissue.In the IVF laboratory mechanical mincing and enzymatic digestion will be performed on the tissue to find spermatozoa. If spermatozoa are present concentration and motility will be available.	Graft-removal of intratesticular and intrascrotal grafts is planned 12 months after grafting.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Histological study to define the optimal transplantation site	The presence of sperm-generating stem cells, as well as their possible maturation to sperm cells will be evaluated through available and validated microscopic staining techniques applied to the testicular tissue. The maturity of other, non-sperm-generating testicular cells (Sertoli cells and Leydig cells) will also be evaluated. The results from tissue fragments transplanted to the testicle will be compared to the results from the tissue fragments transplanted to the scrotum. During the removal procedure of the transplanted fragments, a control biopsy (TESE) will be performed on the contra-lateral testicle (the one on which no transplantation was performed).	Graft-removal of intratesticular grafts and intrascrotal grafts are planned 12 months after initial grafting. Histological study will be performed 12 months after initial grafting
Imaging study	The investigators will study the possibility of analyzing the growth of the transplanted fragments and the development of sperm cell production in these fragments by using ultrasound and Doppler techniques in a non-invasive way. Ultrasound will be performed 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after grafting. These findings will be compared to the findings of the semen and blood analysis and the clinical examination.	Each patient in the study will be followed-up after screening during a period of 12 months post-grafting on 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initial grafting.
Endocrinological (hormonal) study	The investigators plan a follow-up of the functionality of the transplanted tissue by performing blood analyses with LH (IU/L), FSH (IU/L), testosterone (ng/L), Inhibine B (ng/L) and Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3, ng/ml). Blood analyses will be repeated 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the transplantation procedure.	Each patient in the study will be followed-up after screening during a period of 12 months post-grafting on 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initial grafting.
Biomarker Study	As an exploratory part of this study, the investigators will study the possibility to predict the presence of testicular spermatogenesis in a non-invasive way (by semen and/or urine samples). If different biomarkers could be identified specificaly for the different stages of spermatogenesis, the development of the transplanted biopsies could be monitored this way. For this study, a urine and semen sample will be needed 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the transplantation procedure.	Each patient in the study will be followed-up after screening during a period of 12 months post-grafting on 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initial grafting.
Complications	Each patient in the study will be followed-up during a period of 15 months after initial grafting or 3 months after graft-removal to report any complication(s) of the procedures.	Each patient in the study will be follow-up after screening during a period of 15 months post-grafting.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Veerle Vloeberghs, MD, CRG UZ Brussel

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 29, 2020
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 29, 2030
• Study Completion (Anticipated): October 29, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 10, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2022
• Last Verified: June 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Anemia; Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital; Anemia, Hemolytic; Hemoglobinopathies; Hematologic Diseases; Thalassemia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019/477

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No