The human cumulus cell transcriptome provides poor predictive value for embryo transfer outcome

Is the transcriptome of cumulus cells a good predictor of the embryo's developmental competence? The objective of this study was to analyze the transcriptional differences between cumulus cells from oocytes exhibiting different developmental potentials following individual in vitro embryo production and transfer by RNA-seq. Cumulus cells were allocated into three groups according to the developmental potential of their enclosed oocyte: (1) not able to develop to the blastocyst stage (Bl–), (2) able to develop to the blastocyst stage but failing to establish a pregnancy (P–), or (3) able to develop to the blastocyst stage and to establish a clinical pregnancy (P+). Overall design: RNAseq analysis was performed on 5 samples of cumulus cells surrounding oocytes of different developmental ability corresponding to three groups (Bl-, P- and P+)