Melbourne researchers closer to developing artificial ovaries to address infertility in cancer patients
Melbourne researchers are getting closer to developing artificial ovaries to help people diagnosed with cancer overcome infertility.
Treatment for some cancers may leave some women infertile, but researchers from the Royal Women's Hospital have embarked on an ambitious project to counteract the issue.
Lead researcher, the head of Cryopreservation Services at the hospital, Dr Debra Gook said artificial ovaries were being created to mimic the fertility function of the natural ovary.
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Lead researcher Dr Debra Gook has spearheaded the research. 9News
Over the past year Dr Gook has been developing an artificial ovary using animal models in the lab.
The artificial ovary aims to replicate its natural counterpart by producing eggs and releasing steroid hormones.
"In maybe five or 10 years we'll see that this will be the technology that will give hope to those young girls with leukaemia," Good said.
The risk of infertility after chemotherapy occurs as a result of the treatment affecting either the nervous system of pelvic reproductive organs.
Female survivors have reported difficulty conceiving after cancer treatment, but the infertility risks for different age groups and cancer treatments are variable.
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Dr Gook has been developing an artificial ovary using animal models in the lab. 9News
Patient Stacey-Lee Craanen has been treated for a type of leukaemia twice in childhood and more recently thyroid cancer in adulthood.
The 29-year-old said the research gave hope to future cancer patients of preserving their fertility.
"If they do have a massive breakthrough that would be incredible," she said.
"I have gone down that path of trying IVF and things like that and it's been unsuccessful," she said.
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The artificial ovary aims to replicate its natural counterpart by producing eggs and releasing steroid hormones. 9News
Human follicles are harder to isolate and grow than in mouse trials, with a recent experiment with human cells not working as well as hoped, but Dr Gook said local researchers had narrowed down the problem.
The promising research is possible thanks to funding from the Cancer Council Victoria.
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