P-252 Non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI) prediction of blastocyst development from mature oocytes unveils correlation with blastocyst ploidy for enhanced reproductive insight at earliest stage of development
Authors: Alavés Navarro M , Crespo J , Mercuri N , Siddique N , Krivoi A , Fjeldstad J , Teruel J 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
Can MAGENTA identify mature oocytes more likely to develop into a blastocyst of euploid status?

Summary answer
Although built to predict blastocyst development, MAGENTA analysis of mature oocytes additionally displays the ability to highlight those with higher potential to become euploid embryos.

What is known already
MAGENTA (AI image-analysis tool) has been trained to assess and predict blastocyst stage embryo development from mature, denuded oocytes. MAGENTA scores consistently identify oocytes of better quality – more likely to develop into a blastocyst, including blastocysts of higher morphological quality. However, in addition to achieving a blastocyst, the ploidy status of that embryo is crucial in dictating overall chances of implantation and cycle success. Although MAGENTA was not trained to predict blastocyst ploidy from oocytes, most chromosomal errors are of maternal meiotic origin. A correlation between MAGENTA and ploidy status would ignite research possibilities and provide valuable insights.

Study design, size, duration
A retrospective dataset of 1,324 blastocyst embryos that underwent PGT-A via NGS sequencing, between the years 2021-2023, was assessed. All embryos that were tested for ploidy from a patient cohort were included. Embryos reported as mosaic or ‘no diagnosis’ were excluded from analysis (N = 169). All embryos were cultured in a time-lapse incubator immediately post-ICSI. Of the biopsied blastocysts, 81% were of good morphological quality (expansion grade 1-6, ICM and TE grade A/B).

Participants/materials, setting, methods
The data includes 292 patients with a mean age of 38.5 (range 19-46) and an average number of tested blastocysts of 4 (range 1-14). Of the 1173 blastocysts, 847 were aneuploid (72.2%) and 326 were euploid (27.8%). 83% of the blastocysts were from patients of advanced maternal age (AMA, ≥38years old). The first time-lapse image, capturing the mature oocyte stage, was extracted, and scored by MAGENTA (scale 0-10). MAGENTA scores were compared by Welch’s t-tests.

Main results and the role of chance
Impressively, oocytes that developed into euploid blastocysts (n = 326) were identified by MAGENTA with a higher average score of 6.8 compared to those that developed into aneuploid blastocysts (n = 847) with a score of 6.4; a statistically significant differentiation (p &lt; 0.05).
80% of the dataset were high quality blastocysts (expansion 4-6, ICM and TE grade A/B) with an imbalance of euploid (n = 295; mean score 6.8) and aneuploid (n = 643; mean score 6.6) blastocysts—likely a result of AMA. Therefore, subgroup analysis was focused on assessing the ploidy status relationships amongst several patient age groups within these AMA cases.
Due to our clinic’s indication for PGT-A, the smallest subset of oocytes was from patients &lt;38 years of age (N = 373, 48% euploid). In this age group there was no significant difference in MAGENTA scores between the oocytes of euploid and aneuploid embryo status (6.9 vs 6.7; p = 0.522).
However, in oocytes from patients aged ≥38 (N = 800, 19% euploid), the distinction between those that became euploid and aneuploid blastocysts is evident with a statistically significant difference in MAGENTA scores (6.8 vs 6.3; p &lt; 0.05). This relationship with ploidy status additionally remains with further stratification into the ≥41 age group (N = 467 oocytes, 13% euploid; 6.7 vs 5.9; p &lt; 0.01).

Limitations, reasons for caution
Majority of the patients in this dataset underwent PGT-A due to AMA, further research is required to include a wider age demographic, particularly in patients &lt;35 years old. Greater representation of varying blastocyst qualities is required to further assess MAGENTA correlation to ploidy outcomes amongst quality groups.

Wider implications of the findings
This study presents the first non-invasive assessment of mature oocyte quality that indicates oocytes with greater potential for euploid blastocyst development. This application of MAGENTA provides a novel method of gaining ploidy status potential at the mature oocyte stage, which is invaluable to both IVF and cryopreservation cycles.

Trial registration number
NOT APPLICABLE