Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Nov 2022)
Development of protective agents against ovarian injury caused by chemotherapeutic drugs
Abstract
Background: Chemotherapy is one of the causes of ovarian injury and infertility. Although assisted reproductive technology helps young female patients with cancer become pregnant, preventing chemotherapy-induced ovarian injury will often possess even more significant benefits. Objective: We aimed at demonstrating the hazardous effects and mechanisms of ovarian injury by chemotherapeutic agents, as well as demonstrating agents that protect the ovary from chemotherapy-induced injury. Results: Chemotherapeutic agents cause death or accelerate activation of follicles and damage to the blood vessels in the ovary, resulting in inflammation. These often require drug development to protect the ovaries from injury. Conclusions: Our findings provide a basis for the development of drugs to protect the ovaries from injury. Although there are many preclinical studies on potential protective drugs, there is still an urgent need for a large number of clinical experiments to verify their potential use.