Overview

• A sperm donor carrying a rare TP53 gene mutation, linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, fathered 67 children across eight European countries between 2008 and 2015.
• At least 23 of these children inherited the mutation, with 10 already diagnosed with cancers such as leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• The mutation was undetectable at the time of donation, highlighting limitations in genetic screening and the complexities of gonadal mosaicism.
• Experts and organizations, including the European Sperm Bank, are advocating for stricter, unified regulations on donor usage to limit the number of families and children per donor.
• Children carrying the mutation are undergoing intensive monitoring protocols, including whole-body MRI scans, to enable early cancer detection and improve outcomes.