A single institution study evaluating the fertility of young adults with malignancy treated with immunotherapy and early referral to oncofertility providers.

e23254 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used among multiple types of cancers. However, there are limited studies on the long-term effects of ICIs on fertility. Our study seeks to examine factors influencing conception after treatment with ICIs and referral rates to our oncofertility program. Methods: 184 female patients between the ages of 18-45 with malignancies were treated with ICIs from January 2012 to December 2023 at a single tertiary medical center. 2 patients were excluded due to limited reproductive data. Demographics, oncologic, fertility, and reproductive data were collected. Results: Of 184 patients, 68 (37.0%) had documented fertility discussions prior to initiation of ICIs and 36 (19.6%) patients were referred to reproductive medicine. Of the referred patients, the median age at time of ICI initiation was 32 years and 27 (75%) were Caucasian. The most common cancers were breast adenocarcinoma (52.8%), hematologic malignancies (25%), and melanoma (13.9%). 21 (58.3%) underwent a fertility preservation cycle (oocyte or embryo cryopreservation). One patient received ovarian stimulation but oocyte retrieval was not performed due to poor response. There were 3 individuals with successful pregnancies; 3 were previously treated with nivolumab and 2 with chemotherapy. Of the 3 individuals, one individual used in vitro fertilization (IVF) using frozen embryo transfer to conceive, resulting in 2 full-term live births. The other two conceived via natural conception, resulting in one full-term live birth each. Time to conception ranged from 12-27 months following ICI completion. Conclusions: Early referral to oncofertility providers in young adults with cancer can increase rates of successful conception and increase utilization of fertility preservation methods. Larger multi-institutional studies are needed to further delineate the long-term effect of ICIs on fertility. Reproductive data for individuals with successful conception following ICI treatment. Patient 1 2 3 Age at time of ICI 24 22 21 Diagnosis Hodgkin Lymphoma Melanoma Hodgkin Lymphoma Stage IV IIIA IIA ICI received Nivolumab Nivolumab Nivolumab Number of Pregnancies Prior to ICI 0 0 1 Number of Successful Pregnancies Following ICI 2 1 1 Fertility Preservation Method Embryo cryopreservation Declined Oocyte cryopreservation Mode of Pregnancy IVF Natural Natural Duration After Treatment Until Pregnancy (mo) 12 15 27

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2025-05-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e23254
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Reproductive Biology and Fertility
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.88
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article

A single institution study evaluating the fertility of young adults with malignancy treated with immunotherapy and early referral to oncofertility providers.

Rebecca Flyckt, Kathryn J. Coyne, Matthew M. Mirsky, Katherine Daunov et al.
1 citations
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Reproductive Biology and Fertility
1.88
article

A single institution study evaluating the fertility of young adults with malignancy treated with immunotherapy and early referral to oncofertility providers.

Rebecca Flyckt, Kathryn J. Coyne, Matthew M. Mirsky, Katherine Daunov, Iris Yeong- Fung Sheng, Jenny Gong
article en
1 citations

Abstract

e23254 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used among multiple types of cancers. However, there are limited studies on the long-term effects of ICIs on fertility. Our study seeks to examine factors influencing conception after treatment with ICIs and referral rates to our oncofertility program. Methods: 184 female patients between the ages of 18-45 with malignancies were treated with ICIs from January 2012 to December 2023 at a single tertiary medical center. 2 patients were excluded due to limited reproductive data. Demographics, oncologic, fertility, and reproductive data were collected. Results: Of 184 patients, 68 (37.0%) had documented fertility discussions prior to initiation of ICIs and 36 (19.6%) patients were referred to reproductive medicine. Of the referred patients, the median age at time of ICI initiation was 32 years and 27 (75%) were Caucasian. The most common cancers were breast adenocarcinoma (52.8%), hematologic malignancies (25%), and melanoma (13.9%). 21 (58.3%) underwent a fertility preservation cycle (oocyte or embryo cryopreservation). One patient received ovarian stimulation but oocyte retrieval was not performed due to poor response. There were 3 individuals with successful pregnancies; 3 were previously treated with nivolumab and 2 with chemotherapy. Of the 3 individuals, one individual used in vitro fertilization (IVF) using frozen embryo transfer to conceive, resulting in 2 full-term live births. The other two conceived via natural conception, resulting in one full-term live birth each. Time to conception ranged from 12-27 months following ICI completion. Conclusions: Early referral to oncofertility providers in young adults with cancer can increase rates of successful conception and increase utilization of fertility preservation methods. Larger multi-institutional studies are needed to further delineate the long-term effect of ICIs on fertility. Reproductive data for individuals with successful conception following ICI treatment. Patient 1 2 3 Age at time of ICI 24 22 21 Diagnosis Hodgkin Lymphoma Melanoma Hodgkin Lymphoma Stage IV IIIA IIA ICI received Nivolumab Nivolumab Nivolumab Number of Pregnancies Prior to ICI 0 0 1 Number of Successful Pregnancies Following ICI 2 1 1 Fertility Preservation Method Embryo cryopreservation Declined Oocyte cryopreservation Mode of Pregnancy IVF Natural Natural Duration After Treatment Until Pregnancy (mo) 12 15 27

Journal of Clinical OncologyVol. 43(16_suppl)
University Hospitals of Cleveland (US), University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Reproductive Biology and Fertility
1.88
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