Current state and future possibilities of ovarian tissue transplantation

• Main Authors: Seido Takae, Nao Suzuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019-07-01
• Series: Reproductive Medicine and Biology
• Subjects: fertility preservation; in vitro oocyte maturation techniques; investigative techniques; tissue and organ harvesting; transplantation
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/rmb2.12268

Abstract Background As a result of recent developments in cancer treatment, cancer survivorship and survivors' quality of life have been emphasized. Although ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is an experimental technique, it would be the sole technique for fertility preservation treatment for girls with malignant disease. Indeed, OTC requires ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) for conception. As for OTC, there is room to investigate OTT. The present review focused on the current state and progress of OTT. Method The literature regarding OTT, which is currently under development, was reviewed. Main findings To improve the outcome of OTT, both efficacy and safety are important. Good surgical technique and the optimal site are important surgical factors, with orthotopic transplantation increasing. Treatment of growth factors, gonadotropins, antioxidants, apoptosis suppression factors, and cell therapy may improve the efficacy of OTT by inducing neo‐angiogenesis and preventing damage. Artificial ovaries, complete in vitro primordial follicle culture technique, and non‐invasive ovarian imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography, to select the best ovarian tissue are future possibilities. Conclusion Improving neo‐angiogenesis and preventing damage with optimization, as well as investigation of future techniques, may bring us to the next stage of a fertility preservation strategy.