A sperm donor carrying a cancer-linked genetic mutation fathered dozens of children across Europe, triggering a health and regulatory scandal in reproductive medicine.
At a Glance
- At least 67 children born via one sperm donor carry a TP53 mutation linked to cancer
- 10 children have already developed cancer; 23 tested positive for the gene variant
- The donor’s sperm was used by 46 families across 8 European countries
- Experts say the genetic variant was unknown at the time of donation in 2008
- Doctors call for new limits on donor usage and stricter international screening
Cancer-Linked Mutation Found in Donor Children
An alarming genetic discovery has upended families across Europe: a single sperm donor whose samples were widely used since 2008 has been found to carry a dangerous TP53 gene mutation, linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome—a condition that drastically increases the risk of developing cancers such as leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children.
So far, 67 children born from this donor’s sperm have been identified, with 10 already diagnosed with cancer and 23 confirmed to carry the genetic mutation. The variant was not recognized as cancer-causing when the donor was originally approved, but experts now say it poses significant health risks. “We are deeply affected by this case,” said Julie Paulli Budtz from the European Sperm Bank, which distributed the donor’s sperm.
Watch a report: Donor Gene Mutation Sparks Cancer Fears.
Calls for Regulation and International Limits
The scandal has sparked urgent calls for tighter controls over the sperm donation industry. Dr. Edwige Kasper, who led the investigation, emphasized the need for a European-wide limit on how many families can receive sperm from a single donor. “We can’t do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors… but this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease,” she said.
Currently, there’s no unified cap across Europe, and the self-imposed limit by the European Sperm Bank allows up to 75 families per donor. In reality, the number of children per donor is rarely tracked with precision, leaving many families unaware of potential risks until long after conception.
Genetic Risk Monitoring Underway
Doctors now recommend that all children conceived using sperm from the affected donor receive genetic counseling and regular health monitoring. This includes MRI scans and ultrasounds to detect cancer early. The TP53 variant, once considered benign, is now classified as “probably cancer-causing” based on extensive functional trials and predictive modeling.
The case also highlights broader systemic gaps: from inconsistent donor tracking across borders to the limited understanding of genetic variants at the time of donation.
As this crisis unfolds, Europe faces difficult questions about how reproductive medicine should adapt in an age where genetic data is both more accessible—and more consequential—than ever.
