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Cancers
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Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology
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Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 6 March 2026 | Viewed by 2613

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amelia Barcellini

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Guest Editor
1. Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, 27100 Pavia, Italy
2. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: radiotherapy; gynecological cancers; rare cancers; quality of life
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chiara Cassani

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Guest Editor
Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Matteo Foundation, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: ovarian neoplasms; androblastoma; sex cord tumor; gynecological cancers; oncologic menopause; BRCA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to introduce a Special Issue in the journal Cancers titled "Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology". This Special Issue aims to explore the critical interface between oncology and reproductive health, particularly focusing on pioneering advancements in oncofertility that are reshaping cancer care, including the preservation of hormonal function and management of hormonal deficiencies following female oncology treatments.

Oncofertility represents a vital frontier where oncology and fertility preservation intersect, offering hope and opportunities to individuals facing fertility challenges due to cancer treatments. This Special Issue aims to delve into various dimensions of oncofertility and hormonal health within the realm of oncology, including the following:

  1. Innovations in fertility preservation techniques tailored for cancer patients.
  2. Preservation of hormonal function and management of hormonal deficiencies post cancer therapies.
  3. Psychological and ethical considerations in integrating oncofertility and hormonal health into cancer care.
  4. Impacts of cancer therapies on reproductive health outcomes and women’s wellbeing.
  5. Strategies for fertility counseling and decision-making in oncology.
  6. Emerging technologies and novel approaches in oncofertility research to address cancer-related infertility.

We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful contributions from experts in oncology, reproductive health, and related disciplines. Each submission will undergo a robust peer review process to ensure scientific rigor and relevance to the oncology landscape.

By consolidating diverse perspectives and cutting-edge research in oncofertility, this Special Issue seeks to advance knowledge, foster collaborations, and ultimately improve the holistic care and well-being of cancer patients facing fertility and quality of life challenges.

Should you have queries, require further details, or seek guidance on submission, please feel free to reach out. Your invaluable contributions are vital in shaping the discourse on oncofertility within the context of oncology.

We extend our gratitude for your interest and participation in this Special Issue and eagerly anticipate receiving your esteemed contributions.

Dr. Amelia Barcellini
Dr. Chiara Cassani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oncofertility
  • fertility preservation
  • hormonal health
  • cancer survivorship
  • reproductive oncology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 583 KB  
Article
Fertility Preservation in Pediatric Oncology: Results of a Single-Center Retrospective Study (2000–2018)
by Jonas Hafele, Gabriele Kropshofer, Roman Crazzolara, Bettina Toth and Bettina Böttcher
Cancers 2025, 17(22), 3615; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17223615 - 10 Nov 2025
Viewed by 627
Abstract
Background/Objectives: With increasing survival rates in pediatric oncology, late effects, such as therapy-induced infertility, are becoming more relevant. This study evaluated the management of fertility preservation in children and adolescents with cancer at the Medical University Innsbruck between 2000 and 2018. Methods [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: With increasing survival rates in pediatric oncology, late effects, such as therapy-induced infertility, are becoming more relevant. This study evaluated the management of fertility preservation in children and adolescents with cancer at the Medical University Innsbruck between 2000 and 2018. Methods: In this retrospective monocentric study, 552 patients (0–17 years) receiving chemotherapy were analyzed. Data was extracted from the Clinical Information System and the cryopreservation database. The assessed main variables included pubertal status, sex hormone levels, and use of fertility preservation methods. Results: Fertility preservation was documented in 6.5% of patients, more frequently in males (8.9%) than females (3.2%). Sperm cryopreservation was performed in twenty-eight males, ovarian tissue cryopreservation in six females, and oocyte cryopreservation in three. Pubertal status at diagnosis was recorded in 4.9% of patients and hormone levels in 29.7%. Conclusions: The findings highlight significant gaps in systematic fertility preservation, particularly in female patients. Consistent assessment of pubertal and hormonal parameters at diagnosis is essential to inform decision-making. Standardized procedures and closer interdisciplinary collaboration are needed to ensure equitable access to fertility preservation and safeguard long-term quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology)
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11 pages, 359 KB  
Article
Can We Improve Pregnancy Rates in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer After Endocrine Therapy? The Role of Fertility Preservation Beyond Gonadotoxic Therapy
by Maria Vittoria Luciani, Giorgia Mangili, Enrico Papaleo, Rossella Biancardi, Valeria Stella Vanni, Rossella Masciangelo, Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei, Massimo Candiani and Raffaella Cioffi
Cancers 2025, 17(21), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17213498 - 30 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Young patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+BC) face an elevated risk of cancer-related mortality, partly due to lower adherence to hormonal therapies for fertilities concerns. This study aims to evaluate fertility preservation in patients receiving hormonal therapy (HT) alone after [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Young patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+BC) face an elevated risk of cancer-related mortality, partly due to lower adherence to hormonal therapies for fertilities concerns. This study aims to evaluate fertility preservation in patients receiving hormonal therapy (HT) alone after surgery with or without radiotherapy. Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study evaluated BC patients counseled at the Oncofertility Unit of San Raffaele Hospital (2012–2024). Results: Of 251 BC patients who received counseling, 39 met the inclusion criteria. Among 33 patients with adequate follow-up, 15 (45.5%) are still under anticancer treatment, 6 (18.2%) completed HT but do not seek pregnancy, and 12 (36.3%) sought pregnancy, of which 9 (75%) conceived. Among the nine patients who conceived, four had completed HT (one became pregnant after thawing her cryopreserved oocytes and three had a spontaneous pregnancy). Five patients who conceived had suspended HT to seek pregnancy, according to the results of the POSITIVE trial. After HT discontinuation, all patients thawed their oocytes: three had a pregnancy with a live birth, while two patients did not conceive, so one of them attempted a new in vitro fertilization cycle achieving pregnancy with a live birth, while the other one had a spontaneous pregnancy. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of counseling HR+ BC patients candidates for HT alone about the efficacy and safety of fertility preservation. Offering fertility preservation can mitigate the reproductive impact of therapy-related childbearing delays and potentially improve treatment adherence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology)
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Review

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22 pages, 659 KB  
Review
Insomnia in Women Surviving Breast and Gynecological Cancers—A Narrative Review to Address the Hormonal Factor
by Silvia Martella, Paola Proserpio, Maria Elena Guerrieri, Andrea Galbiati, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Laura Cucinella, Anna Daniela Iacobone, Dorella Franchi and Rossella E. Nappi
Cancers 2025, 17(24), 4022; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17244022 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Female cancers, including breast and gynecological malignancies, are among the most prevalent oncological conditions worldwide. Advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment have markedly improved survival, resulting in a growing population of female cancer survivors. Consequently, long-term health and quality of life have become [...] Read more.
Female cancers, including breast and gynecological malignancies, are among the most prevalent oncological conditions worldwide. Advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment have markedly improved survival, resulting in a growing population of female cancer survivors. Consequently, long-term health and quality of life have become essential aspects of comprehensive cancer care. Among survivorship issues, sleep disturbances—particularly insomnia—are highly prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes including mood and cognitive impairment, fatigue, immune and cardiometabolic dysregulation, and reduced adherence to therapy. Insomnia, defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or experiencing poor sleep quality with daytime impairment, affects 6–10% of the general population and is more common in women. In cancer survivors, poor sleep quality appears to be three times more frequent, reaching 62% in breast cancer survivors, although these data may be underestimated, especially for other cancer types, due to the small sample size and heterogeneity of the studies. The pathogenesis of insomnia in female cancer patients is multifactorial, involving cancer-related inflammation, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation, neuroimmune alterations, treatment effects, psychological distress, and behavioral factors. Hormonal disruption plays a central role, as oncological treatments are often the cause of iatrogenic menopause, leading to vasomotor symptoms, mood and cognitive disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and genitourinary complaints, all contributing to sleep disruption. Importantly, estrogens and progesterone independently regulate sleep–wake pathways via central mechanisms, influencing sleep quality even in the absence of vasomotor symptoms. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating oncology, gynecology, and sleep medicine. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is first-line, while pharmacologic options include benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, SSRIs/SNRIs, melatonin, or new medication like DORAs. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) should be considered for premature menopause management in selected women without contraindications, improving both vasomotor symptoms and sleep quality. Emerging neurokinin receptor (NK-R) antagonists show promise, and ongoing trials suggest significant potential even in breast cancer survivors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertility Preservation and Hormonal Health in Oncology)
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