DNA repair problems in men with no sperm and higher cancer risk
Official title: DNA Repair Deficiencies in Infertile Men and Cancer Risk
Funded at Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) · NIH-11386410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether men who have no sperm because their testes can't make it have problems fixing DNA that could raise their chance of some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $569,733 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290670-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) who can provide medical history and biological samples would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Men whose infertility is due to obstructive causes (blockage) or who already have a known chromosomal diagnosis may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I have non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), researchers will look at my blood or testicular samples for signs that my cells can't repair DNA properly, focusing on mismatch repair and the MSH5 gene. They will compare samples and cell responses to DNA-damaging agents between men with NOA and men with sperm to find patterns of genomic instability. The team will combine genetic, epigenetic, and lab-based experiments to link DNA repair defects to both infertility and cancers seen more often in NOA men. This approach aims to explain why some infertile men face higher cancer risk and point toward screening or prevention ideas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify infertile men at higher risk of cancer and lead to new screening or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab and observational studies have linked mismatch repair and MSH5 defects to infertility and certain cancers, but applying these findings to patient screening is still largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lamb, Dolores Jean — Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
- Study coordinator: Lamb, Dolores Jean
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.