During the COVID-19 pandemic, the French Agency of Biomedicine has recommended maintaining fertility preservation for patients requiring immediate oncological treatments exhibiting gonadotoxic effects. However, no study has examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sperm from cancer patients. This study aims therefore to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, specifically in the seminal fluid and the spermatozoa fractions of cancer patient semen. The investigators will determine if the virus presence in sperm is associated with its presence in the nasal swabs, COVID symptoms, specific serological profiles and particular oncological pathologies/treatments.
To perform this, all patient undergoing oncological fertility preservation will be evaluated
for COVID-19 symptomatology (fever, cough, headache, myalgia, diarrhea, anosmia,
pharyngodynia). In addition, a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 research by RT- qPCR will
be performed on the day of semen collection. On the same day, serological tests will be
carried out, and 30 to 50 days after, according to HAS specifications with methods validated
by the National Reference Center. Seminal fluid and spermatozoa will be separated by density
gradient centrifugation for a posteriori molecular analysis of SARS-CoV-2 presence.
Will thus be measured, within the same ejaculate, the concordance between the presence of
SARS-CoV-2 in the seminal fluid and in the sperm cells fraction.
The investigators will also determine if the virus presence in the sperm is related with :
- (i) the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal swab;
- (ii) patient symptomatology;
- (iii) a specific serological profile;
- (iv) a particular oncological pathology and / or treatment. The investigators may also
find out if the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in semen affects sperm quality.
This study will be the first one examining the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen from cancer
patients. This will guarantee the safety of fertility preservation procedures during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Diagnostic Test: SARS-CoV-2 research in nasopharyngeal swab, sperm and serologics
a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 research by RT- qPCR will be performed on the day of semen collection. On the same day, serological tests will be carried out, and 30 to 50 days after, according to HAS specifications with methods validated by the National Reference Center
Inclusion Criteria:
- Man above 18 years of age, of reproductive age, needing oncofertility preservation
through spermatozoa cryopreservation prior to a putative gonadotoxic treatment during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. A patient is considered as symptomatic
if he presents one or several of the following clinical signs: fever, cough,
cephalalgia, myalgia, diarrhea, anosmia, pharyngodynia.
- A sufficient number of remaining spermatozoa straws to perform at least six ART
attempts
Exclusion Criteria:
- Azoospermia
- Severe Oligo-Astheno-Teratozoospermia (OAT) or Cryptozoospermia
- Semen collection failure
- Non-emergency fertility preservation or treatment with low gonadotoxic risk
AP-Hôpitaux de Paris - Hôpital Jean Verdier - Service de Biologie de la reproduction
Bondy, France
AP-Hôpitaux de Paris - Hôpital Antoine Béclére - Service de Biologie de la reproduction et AMP DPI CECOS
Clamart, France
CHU de Clermont-Ferrand - Laboratoire de Virologie
Clermont-Ferrand, France
CHU de Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand, France
CHU de Dijon - Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS
Dijon, France
CHU de Grenoble - Laboratoire d'Aide à la Procréation CECOS
Grenoble, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Service AMP-CECOS
Lyon, France
Hôpital de la Conception - AP-Hôpitaux de Marseille - Service AMP-CECOS
Marseille, France
CHU de Nancy - Laboratoire de biologie de la reproduction - CECOS
Nancy, France
AP-Hôpitaux de Paris - Hôpital Tenon - Service de Biologie de la reproduction - CECOS
Paris, France
AP-Hôpitaux de Paris - Hôpital Cochin - Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Biologie de la reproduction
Paris, France
Centre Hospitalier intercommunal (CHI) de Poissy Saint Germain en Laye
Poissy, France
CHU de Reims - Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS Champagne-Ardenne de Reims
Reims, France
CHU de Rouen Normandie - Service Biologie de la Reproduction-CECOS
Rouen, France
CHU de Strasbourg - Service de Biologie de la reproduction
Strasbourg, France
CHU de Toulouse - CECOS Midi-Pyrénées
Toulouse, France
Lise LACLAUTRE, Pharm D
04 73 754 963 - 33
promo_interne_drci@chu-clermontferrand.fr
Florence BRUGNON, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator
CHU de Clermont-Ferrand