Latest news with #TP53
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Sperm donor's genetic mutation linked to cancer in 10 conceived children
Sperm from a single donor in Europe has reportedly been used to conceive at least 67 pregnancies, although the donor carried a rare cancer-causing mutation. The donor's mutation has been linked to cancer diagnoses in 10 of these children, according to a report by The Guardian. The case was brought to light after two families separately contacted their fertility clinics after their children's cancer diagnoses were linked to a rare genetic variant called TP53. Prostate Cancer Risk Increases By 45% Among Men Who Share One Troubling Behavior A mutation in the TP53 gene causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Cleveland Clinic states that this disorder comes with a 90% chance of developing some type of cancer by age 60, and a 50% chance by the age of 40. The European Sperm Bank, the sperm supplier, confirmed that this variant was present in some of the donor's sperm. Read On The Fox News App The Guardian reported that the rare variant was "not known to be linked to cancer at the time of donation in 2008." The genetic variant reportedly would not have been detectable through standard screening, and the donor is said to currently be in good health. Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, presented this case at the European Society of Human Genetics' annual conference in Milan last week, commenting on the need for a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor. "We can't do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors – I'm not arguing for that," she told The Guardian. "But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe." 4 Troubling Cancer Trends You Must Know About In 2025 Kasper analyzed the mutation in her lab, concluding that it was most likely cancer-causing and that children born from this donor should "receive genetic counseling." The research-turned-investigation tracked down 67 children from 46 families in eight European countries. The children were tested, with the variant detected in 23 of them. The 10 who had been diagnosed with cancer reportedly included cases of leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the European Sperm Bank stated that donor-assisted reproduction "generally remains a significantly safer alternative" than reproduction without genetic screening. The bank added that sperm donors undergo a "comprehensive health screening," which includes an in-depth medical examination, a review of the donor's family medical history and "extensive" testing for genetic and infectious diseases. "However, it's not possible to rule out all risks — and, in this particular case, the identified mutation is one that could not have been detected by the screening methods we use in accordance with regulations and would require specialized genetic testing," the group noted. Julie Paulli Budtz, VP. of corporate communications at the European Sperm Bank, expressed to Fox News Digital that they are "deeply affected by this case." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "The donor has been thoroughly tested even beyond the required standards, but preventative genetic screening is reaching its limits here," she said. "Every human being has about 20,000 genes, and it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for." Budtz noted that the European Sperm Bank welcomes "continued dialogue" regarding setting an "internationally binding family limit," which they have advocated for "on several occasions, also at EU level." "This is also why, in addition to complying with national pregnancy limits, we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor," she added. In the U.S., there is no official legal limit on how many sperm donations one man can make. However, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that donors are limited to 25 live births within each population area of 800,000 people. "Institutions, clinics and sperm banks should maintain sufficient records to allow a limit to be set for the number of pregnancies for which a given donor is responsible," the ASRM states on its website. California Cryobank, which has claimed to have the largest selection of sperm and egg donations in the country, states on its website that it closely monitors donors to limit the total number of family units to 20 to 30 worldwide. "Limiting donor vials is an important part of the process," the bank noted. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all sperm donors undergo a physical exam, complete a questionnaire, provide their medical history, and undergo screenings for infectious diseases at an FDA-approved lab. In addition, the ASRM suggests that donors undergo psychological and genetic screening, and also recommends infectious-disease testing of the recipient and the recipient's sexually intimate partners, per its website. For more Health articles, visit "Legal consultation and laws may vary by state," the organization notes. At California Cryobank, donors must be tested for infectious diseases, undergo genetic screening, get a psychological assessment and criminal background check, and receive screening for the Zika virus, according to the bank's article source: Sperm donor's genetic mutation linked to cancer in 10 conceived children
Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Sperm donor's genetic mutation linked to cancer in 10 conceived children
Sperm from a single donor in Europe has reportedly been used to conceive at least 67 pregnancies, although the donor carried a rare cancer-causing mutation. The donor's mutation has been linked to cancer diagnoses in 10 of these children, according to a report by The Guardian. The case was brought to light after two families separately contacted their fertility clinics after their children's cancer diagnoses were linked to a rare genetic variant called TP53. A mutation in the TP53 gene causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer. Cleveland Clinic states that this disorder comes with a 90% chance of developing some type of cancer by age 60, and a 50% chance by the age of 40. The European Sperm Bank, the sperm supplier, confirmed that this variant was present in some of the donor's sperm. The Guardian reported that the rare variant was "not known to be linked to cancer at the time of donation in 2008." The genetic variant reportedly would not have been detectable through standard screening, and the donor is said to currently be in good health. "The identified mutation is one that could not have been detected by the screening methods we use in accordance with regulations." Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, presented this case at the European Society of Human Genetics' annual conference in Milan last week, commenting on the need for a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor. "We can't do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors – I'm not arguing for that," she told The Guardian. "But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe." Kasper analyzed the mutation in her lab, concluding that it was most likely cancer-causing and that children born from this donor should "receive genetic counseling." The research-turned-investigation tracked down 67 children from 46 families in eight European countries. The children were tested, with the variant detected in 23 of them. The 10 who had been diagnosed with cancer reportedly included cases of leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the European Sperm Bank stated that donor-assisted reproduction "generally remains a significantly safer alternative" than reproduction without genetic screening. The bank added that sperm donors undergo a "comprehensive health screening," which includes an in-depth medical examination, a review of the donor's family medical history and "extensive" testing for genetic and infectious diseases. "However, it's not possible to rule out all risks — and, in this particular case, the identified mutation is one that could not have been detected by the screening methods we use in accordance with regulations and would require specialized genetic testing," the group noted. Julie Paulli Budtz, VP. of corporate communications at the European Sperm Bank, expressed to Fox News Digital that they are "deeply affected by this case." "The donor has been thoroughly tested even beyond the required standards, but preventative genetic screening is reaching its limits here," she said. "Every human being has about 20,000 genes, and it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for." Budtz noted that the European Sperm Bank welcomes "continued dialogue" regarding setting an "internationally binding family limit," which they have advocated for "on several occasions, also at EU level." "This is also why, in addition to complying with national pregnancy limits, we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor," she added. In the U.S., there is no official legal limit on how many sperm donations one man can make. However, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that donors are limited to 25 live births within each population area of 800,000 people. "Institutions, clinics and sperm banks should maintain sufficient records to allow a limit to be set for the number of pregnancies for which a given donor is responsible," the ASRM states on its website. "Limiting donor vials is an important part of the process." California Cryobank, which has claimed to have the largest selection of sperm and egg donations in the country, states on its website that it closely monitors donors to limit the total number of family units to 20 to 30 worldwide. "Limiting donor vials is an important part of the process," the bank noted. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all sperm donors undergo a physical exam, complete a questionnaire, provide their medical history, and undergo screenings for infectious diseases at an FDA-approved lab. In addition, the ASRM suggests that donors undergo psychological and genetic screening, and also recommends infectious-disease testing of the recipient and the recipient's sexually intimate partners, per its website. For more Health articles, visit "Legal consultation and laws may vary by state," the organization notes. At California Cryobank, donors must be tested for infectious diseases, undergo genetic screening, get a psychological assessment and criminal background check, and receive screening for the Zika virus, according to the bank's website.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Belgium says 52 babies born from sperm donor with cancer-linked gene
A sperm is shown as it fertilizes an egg, leading to reproduction in the human body. (Sashkin/ Brussels, Belgium — A Danish sperm donor with a potentially cancer-causing gene fathered 52 children in Belgium between 2008 and 2017, the country's health ministry revealed Friday, in a case potentially involving several other children across Europe. According to a recent investigation by The Guardian, at least 10 cases of cancer have been identified among the 67 children born from his donations between 2008 and 2017. The man was reportedly in good health with no known family history of cancer, and had been tested in line with regulations in place at the time of the donations. But he was later found to carry a mutation of the TP53 gene that causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a rare hereditary disorder that significantly increases cancer risks, including for breast cancer or leukaemia. An alert was issued in 2023 after cancers were identified in some children conceived from his donations at a clinic in Denmark, and Belgium's Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products was notified that year. But Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has said he learned about the case on Monday, and the government has declined to say how many Belgian cases involve confirmed cancer diagnoses. The scandal has exposed apparent breaches of Belgian law, which since 2007 has limited a single donor's sperm to no more than six women. 'That rule was exceeded nationally and within individual centres,' the health ministry said. An internal review has identified 37 affected families in Belgium, leading to 52 births. Authorities noted that not all children necessarily reside in Belgium. The donor's sperm was also reportedly used in at least nine other countries - Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, the Netherlands and Poland.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Sperm donor with rare genetic mutation fathered 67 children. Ten now have cancer, prompting calls for reform
The sperm of a man carrying a rare genetic mutation linked to cancer was used to conceive scores of children across Europe, prompting calls for greater regulation and a limit on the number of births allowed from a single donor. Sperm from the donor was used to conceive at least 67 children from 46 families born between 2008 and 2015, said Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, during a presentation at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics in Milan on Saturday. Ten of the children have already been diagnosed with cancer. 'At the heart of the problem seems to lie the regulation, or maybe the lack of regulation, of the number of births by a single donor,' she said. Analysis showed that the donor, who is himself healthy, had a rare mutation in a gene named TP53, which is likely to cause Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare disorder that increases a person's risk of developing cancer. The mutation was not known when the donation was made, but children born from this donor have since been identified in eight different European countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, said Kasper in her presentation. Ten of them have been diagnosed with cancers such as brain tumors and Hodgkin lymphoma, and another 13 children are carrying the gene but have not yet developed a cancer. They will require regular medical examinations due to their increased risk of developing cancer, and have a 50% chance of transmitting it on to their own children, said Kasper. 'The follow-up protocol involves whole-body MRI scans, MRI scans of the brain and, for adults, of the breast, ultrasound examination of the abdomen, and a clinical examination by a specialist. This is heavy and stressful for carriers, but we have seen its effectiveness in that it has enabled early detection of tumours and thus improved patients' chances of survival,' said Kasper in a press release. Unlike in some cases of serial sperm donors, such as a Dutch man who was ordered to stop donating sperm after being found to have fathered between 500 and 600 children around the world, this man only donated to a single private sperm bank in Denmark named the European Sperm Bank. Julie Paulli Budtz, vice-president of corporate communications at the European Sperm Bank, told CNN that it was 'deeply affected by this case.' 'The donor has been thoroughly tested even above the required standards, but preventative genetic screening is reaching its limits here,' she said in a statement sent to CNN on Monday. 'Every human being has about 20,000 genes, and it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for.' There is currently no limit on the number of children that are allowed to be born using a single donor, something which Budtz said the European Sperm Bank would like to change. 'This is also why, in addition to following national pregnancy limits, we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor,' she said. This limit is self-imposed as regulations vary from country to country. For example, France has a limit of 10 births per donor, while Denmark allows 12 and Germany allows up to 15, according to the press release. 'There is a major issue here concerning a lack of harmonised regulation across Europe,' Kasper said in the release. 'We need proper regulation at European level to try to prevent it happening again, and to implement measures to ensure a worldwide limit on the number of offspring conceived from the same donor.'
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor issues urgent plea as sperm donor used to conceive 67 kids passes cancer-causing gene on to them - 10 now confirmed to have the disease
A doctor has issued an urgent plea after it was revealed a sperm donor used to conceive at least 67 children across Europe has passed on a rare cancer-causing mutation. Around 23 of those conceived from the donor's sperm between 2008 and 2015 have been found to carry a variant in the TP53 gene which provides instructions for making tumour proteins. And 10 of these children have already been diagnosed with cancers such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The case was described by Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, as an 'abnormal dissemination of genetic disease'. She urged The Guardian: 'We need to have a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor. 'We can't do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors – I'm not arguing for that,' she added. 'But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe.' The shocking revelation came to light when two separate families contacted their fertility clinics after their children were diagnosed with cancers connected to the a variant in the TP53 gene. Analysis by the European Sperm Bank which supplied the sperm confirmed that the rare variant was present in some of the donor's sperm. But they emphasised that it was not known to be linked to cancer at the time the sperm was donated in 2008 and it would not have been detected using standard screening techniques. Furthermore, the donor is thought to be in good health. The European Sperm Bank said that more than 67 children had been conceived using the donor's sperm, but that its policy does not allow them to confirm exact numbers of children for a specific donor. It said all of the relevant clinics had been alerted. Julie Paulli Budtz, a spokesperson for the European Sperm Bank, said: 'We are deeply affected by this case.' Although the donor had been thoroughly tested, she said that 'it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for'. She added: 'We welcome continued dialogue on setting an internationally mandated family limit, and have advocated for this on several occasions. 'This is also why we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor.' It is suggested that children who have the mutated TP53 gene undergo whole body and brain MRI scans. They are also advised to have regular breast and abdomen ultrasounds throughout adulthood. The case has sparked questions about the challenge of tracing the families affected and the lack of internationally agreed limits surrounding the use of a single sperm donor. Many European countries have their own limits on either the number of families that can use a donor or the number of children that can be conceived using the same donor. Current UK law allows for sperm from a single donor to be used to create a maximum of 10 families.
