Sperm donor cancer gene mutation: A sperm donor with a rare genetic mutation passed on a cancer risk to at least 67 children across Europe, raising serious concerns about international sperm donation regulations. Out of these children, 10 have already been diagnosed with cancer. This situation has started a debate on how many children can be fathered by a single sperm donor and the need for better medical screening.
A sperm donor carried a rare mutation in the TP53 gene. This gene links to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a condition that increases the risk of several cancers, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In 2008, when the donor gave the sperm, experts had not yet widely recognized the mutation as cancer-causing, and standard tests at the time could not detect it.
The issue surfaced when two families in different countries contacted fertility clinics after their children developed cancer. Both families had used sperm from the same donor. Investigations across Europe revealed that this donor fathered 67 children from 46 families in 8 countries. Among those children, 23 carried the harmful TP53 mutation, and 10 already developed cancer.
Sperm donor cancer gene mutation: Dr. Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, studied the mutation and confirmed its harmful nature. She presented her findings at a European genetics conference in Milan. She recommended that all children conceived from this donor should undergo genetic counseling and routine health checks, including full-body MRI scans and other cancer-screening methods.
The European Sperm Bank, which distributed the sperm, limits donations to 75 families per donor. However, they have not disclosed the exact number of children born from this donor. Dr. Kasper and other experts now demand stricter regulations and more transparency in sperm donation.
Professor Nicky Hudson from De Montfort University in the UK highlighted how cross-border sperm donation complicates tracking and medical follow-up. She emphasized the need for global rules, clear limits, and proper systems to trace donor use and protect families from future risks.
A spokesperson from the European Sperm Bank acknowledged the seriousness of the case. They admitted that even with strict screening, unknown genetic mutations may escape detection. They also expressed support for new international rules that would cap how many families can receive sperm from one donor.
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