Fertility preservation in cancer patients: barriers and solutions (case report)
DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2026-9-2-10
Fertility preservation in cancer patients: barriers and solutions (case report)
A.Yu. Kishkina1, A.N. Shevchenko2,3, E.S. Mladova4, О.V. Polikarpova2, I.M. Grashchenko2, V.V. Didenko1, Iu.К. Brichkalevich4, A.A. Povarova4, E.A. Baryakh2, D.D. Ivanova2, S.A. Parts1,5, V.N. Galkin1, E.A. Kulikova1, V.G. Shatalov1, M.A. Lysenko2,3, Yu.E. Dobrohotova3, V.M. Grabovsky2
1 S.S. Yudin City Clinical Hospital, Moscow, Russian Federation
2 City Clinical Hospital No. 52, Moscow, Russian Federation
3 Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
4 Institute of Reproductive Medicine LLC, Moscow, Russian Federation
5 Research Institute of Pulmonology of the Russian Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
The cornerstone of implementing fertility preservation programs in oncology patients lies in aligning the timeline of biological material collection with the initiation of antineoplastic treatment. Regulatory documents governing the delivery of care to cancer patients stipulate permissible timeframes for diagnostic workup and treatment commencement for malignant neoplasms; however, they do not incorporate provisions for counseling on the risk of infertility following completion of antitumor therapy or for the implementation of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. This article demonstrates the follow-up concerning the feasibility of implementing an ART program via oocyte cryopreservation following controlled ovarian stimulation in a stage IIA breast cancer (сT2N0M0G2) patient without compromising the permissible timeframes for the initiation of definitive antineoplastic treatment. The timelines for diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning were assessed in accordance with the requirements of Order No. 16 of the Moscow Department of Healthcare dated January 14, 2022, "On the Organization of Medical Care in the Field of Oncology.» Contemporary fertility preservation methods, grounded in the coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team, enhance the feasibility of integrating diagnostic workup stages and treatment initiation timelines with ART programs without incurring delays in antineoplastic treatment.
Keywords: fertility preservation, multidisciplinary team, cancer patients, chemotherapy, infertility, breast cancer patients, patient pathway.
For citation: Kishkina A.Yu., Shevchenko A.N., Mladova E.S., Polikarpova О.V., Grashchenko I.M., Didenko V.V., Brichkalevich Iu.К., Povarova A.A., Baryakh E.A., Ivanova D.D., Parts S.A., Galkin V.N., Kulikova E.A., Shatalov V.G., Lysenko M.A., Dobrohotova Yu.E., Grabovsky V.M. Fertility preservation in cancer patients: barriers and solutions (case report). Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2026;9(2):158–165 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2026-9-2-10
About the authors:
Anastasia Yu. Kishkina — C. Sc. (Med.), Head of the Department of Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast and Reproductive System Tumors No. 3, S.S. Yudin City Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomenskiy Ave., Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0003-2560-0996
Nikolay A. Shevchenko — C. Sc. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; 1, Ostrovityanov str., Moscow, 117513, Russian Federation; Head of the Department of Obstetrics; City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-1216-5721
Elena S. Mladova — obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductologist, Chief Medical Officer of the Institute of Reproductive Medicine LLC; 3 build. 1, Shmitovsky Lane, Moscow, 123100, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-6103-3100
Olga V. Polikarpova — obstetrician-gynecologist of the Department of Obstetrics, City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-9060-3005
Irina M. Grashchenko — obstetrician-gynecologist of the Department of Obstetrics, City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0002-5595-148X
Vera V. Didenko — oncologist, Head of the Department of Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast and Reproductive System Tumors No. 3, S.S. Yudin City Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomenskiy Ave., Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-9068-1273
Yulia K. Brichkalevich — obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductologist, Institute of Reproductive Medicine LLC; 3 build. 1, Shmitovsky Lane, Moscow, 123100, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0009-9798-9743
Anna A. Povarova — obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductologist, Institute of Reproductive Medicine LLC; 3 build. 1, Shmitovsky Lane, Moscow, 123100, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-2117-155
Elena A. Baryakh — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Head of the Department of Hematology and Chemotherapy, City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-6880-9269
Diana D. Ivanova — hematologist of the Department of Hematology and Chemotherapy, City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0004-3632-9198
Sergey A. Parts — C. Sc. (Med.), Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Oncology, S.S. Yudin City Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomenskiy Ave., Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; Associate Professor of the Department of Oncology and Plastic Surgery, Academy of Postgraduate Education of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russian Federation; 91, Volokolamskoe road, Moscow, 125371, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0003-9954-4584
Vsevolod N. Galkin — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor, Chief Medical Officer of the S.S. Yudin City Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomenskiy Ave., Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-6619-6179
Evgenia A. Kulikova — Head of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, S.S. Yudin State Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomensky passage, Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-0319-4934
Vitaly G. Shatalov — C. Sc. (Med.), Head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, S.S. Yudin State Clinical Hospital; 4, Kolomensky passage, Moscow, 115446, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0000-9004-0476
Mariana A. Lysenko — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Chief Medical Officer of the City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; Professor of the Department of General Therapy of the Faculty of Continuous Professional Education, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; 1, Ostrovityanov str., Moscow, 117513, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-6010-7975
Yulia E. Dobrokhotova — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; 1, Ostrovityanov str., Moscow, 117513, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-7830-2290
Vasily M. Grabovsky — Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Obstetric and Gynecological Care, City Clinical Hospital No. 52; 3, Pekhotnaya str., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-7512-2470
Contact information: Anastasia Yu. Kishkina, e-mail: dr.kishkina@mail.ru
Financial Disclosure: this research and publication were supported by the ANPO "Moscow Center for Innovative Technologies in Healthcare" (Grant No. 1603-45/23 "Investigation of the feasibility of preserving reproductive and menstrual function in oncological, particularly oncohematological, female patients using methods of oocyte, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation with subsequent autotransplantation").
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 22.12.2025.
Revised 12.01.2026.
Accepted 30.01.2026.
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