Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation for Fertility Preservation

Description

Testicular tissue cryopreservation is an experimental procedure where a young boy's testicular tissue is retrieved and frozen. This technique is reserved for young male patients who are not yet producing mature sperm, with the ultimate goal that their tissue may be used in the future to restore fertility when experimental techniques emerge from the research pipeline.

Conditions

Cancer, Autoimmune Disorders

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Testicular tissue cryopreservation is an experimental procedure where a young boy's testicular tissue is retrieved and frozen. This technique is reserved for young male patients who are not yet producing mature sperm, with the ultimate goal that their tissue may be used in the future to restore fertility when experimental techniques emerge from the research pipeline.

Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation for Fertility Preservation in Patients Facing Infertility-causing Diseases or Treatment Regimens

Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation for Fertility Preservation

Condition
Cancer
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Pittsburgh

Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Be male at any age.
  • * Be scheduled to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, drug treatment and/or radiation for the treatment or prevention of a medical condition or malignancy with risk of causing permanent and complete loss of subsequent testicular function.
  • * Or, have a medical condition or malignancy that requires removal of all or part of one or both testicles.
  • * Have newly diagnosed or recurrent disease. Those who were not enrolled at the time of initial diagnosis (i.e., patients with recurrent disease) are eligible if they have not previously received therapy that is viewed as likely to result in complete and permanent loss of testicular function.
  • * Have two testicles if undergoing elective removal of all or part of a testicle for fertility preservation only. Note: removal of both testicles will limit fertility preservation options.
  • * Sign an approved informed consent and authorization permitting the release of personal health information. The patient and/or the patient's legally authorized guardian must acknowledge in writing that consent for specimen collection has been obtained, in accordance with institutional policies approved by the U.S. Department of Health and
  • * Consent for serum screening tests for infectious diseases \[HIV-1, HIV-2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C\], to be performed at the time of testicular tissue harvesting.
  • * Undergo a full history and physical examination and obtain standard pre-operative clearance (based on the most recent ACC/AHA Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation for Noncardiac Surgery) as determined by their primary surgeon.
  • * Participating in long term follow-up is a requirement of the protocol.
  • * Diagnosed with psychological, psychiatric, or other conditions which prevent giving fully informed consent.
  • * Diagnosed with an underlying medical condition that significantly increases their risk of complications from anesthesia and surgery.

Ages Eligible for Study

to

Sexes Eligible for Study

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Pittsburgh,

Kyle Orwig, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Pittsburgh/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2026-01