Evidence of residual disease in cryopreserved ovarian cortex from female patients with leukemia

Objective To systematically search for leukemic cells in cryopreserved ovarian cortex from Danish female patients with leukemia, who had ovarian cortex cryopreserved for fertility preservation before potentially sterilizing treatment. Design Retrospective analysis of data in a clinical project. Setting University hospital laboratories. Patient(s) In total, 26 patients diagnosed with leukemia, who had ovarian tissue cryopreserved before potentially sterilizing chemotherapy and conditioning. Intervention(s) Ovarian cortex from each patient was examined with histology and immunohistochemistry. In addition, in eight cases a specific chromosomal abnormality could be used as a genetic marker for detection of malignant cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Main Outcome Measure(s) Evidence of malignant cells by immunohistochemistry or PCR. Result(s) Histology and immunohistochemistry did not reveal malignant cell infiltration in the ovarian cortex of any of the patients. In six of the eight patients (75%) with chromosomal abnormalities in the malignant cells, PCR showed evidence of leukemic cells in the ovarian tissue. Conclusion(s) Immunohistochemistry was unable to locate leukemic cells in the ovarian cortex; however, PCR detected potentially malignant cells in the majority of cases. The viability and malignancy of these cells remains to be determined. At present, reimplantation of ovarian cortex to leukemia patients cannot be recommended.