2019 Pediatric Initiative Network: Progress, Proceedings, and Plans

Abstract

Impairment of fertility and sexual/reproductive health are common after oncologic therapy, and are known to have negative impacts on romantic relationships and psychosocial well-being among childhood cancer survivors. The Pediatric Initiative Network (PIN) is an international, multidisciplinary group of providers within the Oncofertility Consortium dedicated to preserving and protecting the fertility of children and adolescents at risk for infertility due to medical conditions or treatments. The PIN and its Best Practices and Research committees meet virtually throughout the year, with one annual in-person meeting. The purpose of this ''proceedings'' is to highlight key discussion points from the annual PIN meeting which took place on November 11, 2019, to 1) provide a context for pediatric groups across the country on what oncofertility programs are currently doing and why, and 2) inform stakeholders of past, present and future initiatives that may be of value to them and the patient populations they serve.

A synopsis of global frontiers in fertility preservation

“…Leena Nahata, MD, reviewed the contributions of the Pediatric Initiative Network, an international group of providers dedicated to preserving and protecting the fertility of children and adolescents at risk for infertility due to either underlying medical conditions or their treatments [ 45 , 46 ]. A best practices committee was established to develop strategies to optimize fertility-related care, while a research committee set out to design and implement collaborative multi-site research to advance care.…”

Expansion of the Fertility Preservation Program to All Newly Diagnosed Prepubertal Patients with Cancer at a Pediatric Hospital

“…Historically, attempts to preserve fertility have only been available to postpubertal male and female patients with cancer via sperm and oocyte cryopreservation. Recent advances allow prepubertal patients who are diagnosed with cancer and meet eligibility criteria to preserve their fertility via gamete tissue cryopreservation (Nahata et al, 2020; Vindrola-Padros et al, 2016). The American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Society for Reproductive Medicine have all endorsed that risk assessment and fertility preservation options should be offered to all newly diagnosed patients/families with cancer regardless of sex or pubertal status (Corkum et al, 2019; Hoyos-Martinez et al, 2021; Oktay et al, 2018).…”