Health authorities in Greece are investigating a rare and alarming case involving a Danish sperm donor who carried the TP53 gene, a mutation known to significantly increase cancer risk. The donor, unknowingly, fathered 18 children in Greece between 2008 and 2017, six of whom developed cancer, with one child tragically passing away.
Understanding the TP53 Gene Case
The TP53 mutation is extremely rare and usually not screened for in sperm banks. Professor Antonis Kattamis, a pediatric hematology-oncology expert, described the situation as a “mosaic,” noting that in one Greek family, three siblings were diagnosed as early as 2020, with a fourth testing positive in 2023.
The last child born from this donor in Greece arrived in 2017, before the establishment of a national database to track sperm donors and their offspring. Authorities now stress that the donor’s prolonged use of one sperm sample across multiple countries was highly inappropriate.
Regulatory Response in Greece
Ismini Kriari, President of the National Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction (EAIYA), confirmed that the donor’s sperm is permanently banned. Greek law now limits each sperm donor to a maximum of 12 children per country, and authorities have instituted genetic and medical screening protocols for all donors. Families who received sperm from the donor have been instructed to have their children undergo genetic testing.
The case has prompted a broader European discussion, with countries including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland working to regulate the cross-border distribution of sperm and egg donations.
