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Digit ratio (2D:4D) in Chinese women with gastric cancer
1Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Objectives:
Digit ratio, especially the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), is a proxy indicator for prenatal exposure and sensitivity to sexual hormones which may influence the susceptibility to certain cancers. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is a possible association between 2D:4D and gastric cancer (GCA) in north Chinese women.
Methods:
Photographs of the left and right hands of 167 women (controls: 113; patients: 54) were collected. Left hand, right hand, and right minus left hand (Dr-l) 2D:4D were analyzed and compared.
Results:
The GCA group presented significantly lower 2D:4D than controls (left: P < .01; right: P < .05). No significant difference was observed in Dr-l between the two groups. In patients, there were no correlations between 2D:4D and age at GCA or tumor staging.
Conclusions:
Decreased 2D:4D (especially of the left hand) may suggest a higher prenatal testosterone (lower prenatal estrogen) exposure in north Chinese women with GCA.
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