Gonadotoxic Effects of Nilotinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Dose in a Mouse Model

OBJECTIVE: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors may have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis or folliculogenesis, resulting in male or female subfertility. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of nilotinib, which is used routinely to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, on spermatogenesis and folliculogenesis by using histopathological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male and ten female mice were orally treated with nilotinib at 20 mg/kg body weight dissolved in drinking water daily for 2 months. RESULTS: When compared with the control group, a statistically significant decrease was demonstrated in the total follicle numbers of the female mice in the nilotinib group (268±110 vs. 170±60; p=0.03). Active spermatogenesis was observed in each tubule sample taken from the mice in the control and nilotinib groups. Spermatogenic activity was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that even though spermatogenesis is preserved, folliculogenesis is inhibited by the usage of a continuous nilotinib treatment dose in chronic myeloid leukemia.