In vitro maturation of cryopreserved prepubertal spermatogonial stem cells to restore fertility after gonadotoxic therapies

Adult survivors of childhood cancer can suffer from infertility due to gonadotoxic treatments received. Since prepubertal boys do not produce sperm, cryobanking of immature testicular tissue (ITT) is the only experimental fertility preservation (FP) option available. This work investigates reproductive outcomes of boys who banked ITT since the inception of the FP program at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in 2005 and the potential of in vitro maturation (IVM) of ITT as a fertility restoration strategy. In addition to presenting novel data on the long-term safety of a testicular biopsy performed within the context of FP, this thesis also details the development and application of innovative culture systems and media aimed at enhancing the outcomes of organotypic culture of ITT. While achieving complete maturation of human ITT in vitro remains a challenge and is thus not ready for clinical use yet, this research work offers valuable insights for further progress.(BIFA - Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques) -- UCL, 202