A sperm donor carrying a cancer-linked TP53 mutation fathered at least 197 children across Europe, a cross-border investigation has found.

Some children have already died and, for those who inherit the mutation, only a minority will escape cancer in their lifetimes, the investigation by 14 public service broadcasters found.

The sperm was not sold to UK clinics, but a “very small” number of British families used the donor’s sperm while having fertility treatment in Denmark.

Prof Clare Turnbull, a cancer geneticist at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: “It is a dreadful diagnosis. It’s a very challenging diagnosis to land on a family, there is a lifelong burden of living with that risk, it’s clearly devastating.”

Denmark’s European Sperm Bank, which sold the sperm, said affected families had its “deepest sympathy” and admitted the sperm was used to make too many babies in some countries.

The anonymous donor was paid to donate as a student starting in 2005. His sperm was then used by women for about 17 years. He is healthy and passed donor screening checks.

A mutation arose in some of his cells before birth, damaging TP53, a tumour-suppressor gene that helps stop cells becoming cancerous.

Up to 20 per cent of his sperm carry the altered TP53.

Children conceived from affected sperm have the mutation in every cell, known as Li Fraumeni syndrome, which brings up to a 90 per cent lifetime cancer risk.

Dr Edwige Kasper, a cancer geneticist at Rouen University Hospital in France, said: “We have many children that have already developed a cancer.

“We have some children that have developed already two different cancers and some of them have already died at a very early age.”

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, said affected British women “have been told about the donor by the Danish clinic at which they were treated.”

Femtech World explores the latest research developments in the world of women’s health.

Fertility treatments linked to higher mutations than natural conception

Mice that were conceived with IVF in the lab have slightly increased rates of DNA errors, or mutations, compared to pups conceived naturally, a new study suggests.

While the results do not directly apply to humans, they highlight the importance of understanding how fertility treatments affect an offspring’s DNA.

The researchers compared genome sequences of lab mice conceived naturally and mice conceived through assisted reproductive technologies, including hormone treatments, IVF, and embryo transfer.

They discovered pups born through these fertility treatments had about 30 per cent more new single-nucleotide variants, or tiny changes in DNA sequences.

Nucleotides are DNA’s building blocks or “letters.” Arranged in specific sequences, these letters compose the instructions cells use to grow and function.

Single-nucleotide variants are simply genetic differences (or mutations) involving a change in just one DNA letter. They can occur when cells replicate their DNA.

The mutations observed in the study are unlikely to be harmful.

Scientists estimate that fewer than 2 per cent of new mutations arising in a genome are deleterious or have an impact on an individual’s phenotype or disease susceptibility, the researchers said.

The mutations appeared spread across the genome, rather than clustered in particular genes.

The timing of when these new mutations appeared in early embryos also looked similar between fertility-treated and natural groups, implying that fertility treatment increases the overall chance of new DNA changes but does not impact when they occur during development.

Even with a 30 per cent increase in new mutations, the absolute number of harmful new mutations per mouse remains low.

For about every 50 mice conceived with IVF, scientists expect roughly one additional harmful DNA change compared to natural conception.

That is one problematic change out of many possible ones, since the mouse genome is about 2.7 billion DNA letters long.

A similar effect is expected if the male parent’s age increased by about 30 weeks, since paternal age is a major driver of mutation rates in mammals.

The biological mechanisms underlying these genetic changes are not clear.

Further research is needed to study whether the new mutations come from a specific step in the IVF process or from the combined effects of several steps.

One possible factor is the use of hormone treatments that stimulate the ovaries, since these hormones push eggs to restart meiosis, a stage of cell division known to be prone to mistakes.

Other aspects of the fertility treatment protocol could also play a role, such as physical handling of embryos or the chemical conditions of the lab culture environment.

The study does not show whether the same effect happens in humans. Fertility procedures vary between mice and humans, and both have different reproductive biology.

For example, mice do not menstruate. Also, people seeking IVF will likely encounter environmental factors that may already have affected their genetics.

First patient enrolled in study evaluating sofetabart mipitecan in recurrent ovarian cancer

The GOG Foundation has announced the enrollment of the first patient in GOG-3133, a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating sofetabart mipitecan in recurrent ovarian cancer.

Sofetabart mipitecan is a novel folate receptor alpha-targeting antibody-drug conjugate featuring an exatecan payload.

In early-phase studies, sofetabart mipitecan demonstrated robust and durable clinical activity with an ORR of 50 per cent among 104 heavily pre-treated patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), across all range of FRα expression levels, and in patients previously treated with mirvetuximab soravtansine with negligible rates of interstitial lung disease and peripheral neuropathy and no ocular toxicity or alopecia.

This clinical trial, sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, has two parts; it tests a potential new medicine called sofetabart mipitecan for people with certain types of ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancers.

Part A looks at participants whose cancer no longer responds to platinum-based chemotherapy (platinum resistant).

Part B looks at participants whose cancer has a higher chance of responding to platinum-based chemotherapy (platinum sensitive).

The FRAmework-01 study aims to address the need for more effective therapies in both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Young people in Wales to receive new information about women’s health

The Women’s Health Network has worked with school nurses and learners across Wales to develop resources for women’s health.

Girls and boys contributed to ensure they reflect the information young people need.

The resources, which were launched this week by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, cover 4 key areas including menstrual health, endometriosis, pelvic health, and menopause.

Secondary schools will be able to adapt the resources to include their own branding.

The materials work across multiple platforms, including email, leaflets, posters, social media and QR codes.

They are designed to reduce stigma around periods, help young people recognise when to seek medical help, and raise awareness of conditions like endometriosis.

They also provide information on pelvic health and menopause to support understanding of health issues throughout their lives.

Members of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board youth panel who helped create the materials were at the launch event at the Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said: “These new resources will help to support the health and wellbeing of young people across Wales.

“By working directly with young people to develop these materials, we’ve ensured they address the real questions and concerns they have.

“I’m grateful to all the young people who have contributed their insights and experiences to make these materials relevant and accessible.

“This is part of our commitment to address the gender health gap and improve health outcomes for women and girls across the country.”

Nestlé joins UN-led coalition supporting women’s health

Nestlé has announced it has joined the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The coalition aims to drive private-sector investment into  advancing comprehensive health policies and measurable standards for women’s health across workplaces, supply chains, and broader business ecosystems.

“We are proud to join this initiative and collaborate with UNFPA and other coalition members to redefine how businesses address women’s health,” said Serena Aboutboul, global head of nutrition division at Nestlé.

“From maternal health to menopause, our commitment is unwavering.

“We provide innovative and tailored nutrition solutions, ensure respectful workplace conditions, and increase support to women. When women thrive, families, communities, and economies flourish.”

The coalition’s work supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals on Good Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality.

By becoming a coalition member, Nestlé will help strengthen broader corporate action in line with the UNFPA’s scorecard of metrics and indicators for women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace.

“We welcome companies taking concrete steps to strengthen women’s health and rights in the workplace,” says Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA private sector and civil society branch chief.

“By joining the Coalition, Nestlé signals its commitment to advancing measurable standards and supporting a future where women’s health is recognised as central to business success and societal well-being.”