Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) could prevent infertility in male cancer patients, according to preclinical research published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.
Researchers said they found that G-CSF protects spermatogenesis after alkylating chemotherapy by stimulating the proliferation of surviving spermatogonia.
The team also found evidence to suggest that G-CSF may be useful as a fertility-restoring treatment.
The researchers have been pursuing initiatives to restore fertility in men who have lost their ability to have children as a result of cancer treatments they received as children.
While working on methods to restart sperm production, the team discovered a link between G-CSF and the absence of normal damage to reproductive ability.
“We were using G-CSF to prevent infections in our research experiments,” said study author Brian Hermann, PhD, of The University of Texas at San Antonio.
“It turned out that the drug also had the unexpected impact of guarding against male infertility.”
To test the fertility-related impact of G-CSF, the researchers treated male mice with G-CSF before and/or after treatment with busulfan.
The team then evaluated effects on spermatogenesis in these mice and control mice that only received busulfan.
G-CSF had a protective effect on spermatogenesis that was stable for at least 19 weeks after chemotherapy.
And mice treated with G-CSF for 4 days after busulfan showed modestly enhanced spermatogenic recovery compared to controls.
The researchers said these results suggest G-CSF promotes spermatogonial proliferation, leading to enhanced spermatogenic regeneration from surviving spermatogonial stem cells.
