Sperm donor with cancer mutation: at least 197 children born in Europe.

According to ТСН: An important journalistic investigation has revealed that a sperm donor with a genetic mutation that increases the risk of cancer has become the biological father of at least 197 children across various countries in Europe. Some of these children have already died, and only a small number of carriers of this mutation are likely to avoid developing cancer in their lifetime.

Mutation not detected in time

The sperm belonged to an anonymous donor who began donating in 2005 while still a student. Although the man was considered healthy and underwent all necessary checks, a genetic disorder was found in some of his cells. The mutation affected the TP53 gene, which is responsible for protecting cells from cancerous transformations.

Although the dangerous variant was not present in most of the donor's tissues, approximately 20% of his sperm contained this mutation. If conception occurs using such sperm, every cell of the child receives the damaged gene. This can lead to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer by up to 90%, especially in childhood, and also significantly increases the risk of breast cancer in women during adulthood.

"This is extremely difficult for the family: a lifelong fear and burden associated with such a risk," said the professor.

Children with the mutation must undergo annual full-body and brain MRIs, as well as abdominal ultrasounds for timely tumor detection. Women are often advised to undergo preventive breast removal.

The European sperm bank reported that "neither the donor nor his relatives are ill," and standard tests do not detect this mutation. After the problem was identified, the donor was "immediately blocked."

Children are already dying

Doctors monitoring the cancer-affected children conceived by this donor expressed their suspicions at a conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. During the presentation, it was noted that of the 67 known children, 23 had this mutation, and 10 of them have already been diagnosed with cancer.

Through inquiries and interviews, journalists have determined that at least 197 children have been born from this donor—but these are not yet final figures. How many of them inherited the mutation remains unknown.

"We have many children who have already developed cancer. Some even have two different types. Some have died at a very early age," said Dr. Edwige Kasper from France.

One mother raising a daughter alone learned about her 14-year-old daughter’s mutation after an urgent examination at a Belgian clinic. The woman does not blame the donor but considers it unacceptable that she was provided with sperm that "was not clean, was not safe, and carried risks."

"When exactly this will happen, which cancer it will be—we don’t know. But we know that it will happen. And when it does, we will fight," she says.

This donor's sperm has been used in 67 clinics in 14 countries.

The problem of lacking international standards

There are no uniform standards around the world limiting the number of uses of sperm from a single donor—each country establishes its own rules. The European sperm bank acknowledged that these restrictions "unfortunately have been violated" in several states.

Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Manchester points out that many countries rely on large international sperm banks that supply material to several countries simultaneously. This complicates the monitoring of the total number of uses. Pacey described this situation as "terrible" but noted that a completely safe system cannot be created.

"We are already accepting only 1-2% of candidates for donors. If we tighten the requirements even more, there will simply be no donors," the professor explains.

The European sperm bank in Denmark, which supplied the material, expressed "its deepest sympathies" to the affected families and acknowledged that in some countries, sperm was used excessively.

This situation highlights the importance of establishing international standards for donor programs. The lack of such norms can lead to serious health consequences for children born from donor sperm that carries hidden genetic risks. Legislators and medical institutions need to work more actively to address this issue to protect families and children.