Cancer Gene Carrier Sperm Donor Fathers 67 Children, 10 Diagnosed with Cancer

A disturbing case from Europe has raised serious concerns about sperm donation rules.

A donor, unaware that he carried a rare genetic mutation linked to cancer, has fathered at least 67 children, with ten already diagnosed with cancer.

His sperm, donated between 2008 and 2015, resulted in births across eight European countries, prompting urgent debates over the regulations on donor usage and the adequacy of genetic screening processes.

Rare Genetic Mutation in Sperm Donor Linked to Cancer Cases Across Europe

The issue surfaced during a presentation by Edwige Kasper, a biologist from Rouen University Hospital in France, at the European Society of Human Genetics conference held in Milan.

Kasper revealed that the donor carried a mutation in the TP53 gene, which causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome—a rare genetic disorder that significantly raises an individual’s lifetime risk of developing cancer.

At the time the donations were made, this mutation was unknown and could not be detected through routine genetic screening.

The donor, who appeared healthy, provided sperm exclusively through a private facility, the European Sperm Bank in Denmark. However, years later, doctors across Europe began to notice a concerning pattern of cancer cases among children conceived using his sperm.

Cancer-Linked Mutation in Sperm Donor Puts Dozens of Children at Risk, Experts Call for Stricter Screening

Ten children fathered by the donor have developed serious cancers like brain tumors and leukemia, while 13 others carry the cancer-linked mutation and are at high risk. Experts stress the need for lifelong monitoring and regular scans for affected children. The case highlights the lack of international limits on the number of children per donor and challenges in tracking sperm donations across countries. The European Sperm Bank has set a 75-family limit, but concerns remain. Researchers urge stricter genetic screening and counseling for affected families.