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Sex differences in cancer mechanisms
Joshua B Rubin1,2, Joseph S Lagas3, Lauren Broestl3
1Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA. Rubin_j@wustl.edu.
Biology of Sex Differences
|April 17, 2020
Summary
Sex is a crucial biological variable in cancer research, impacting progression and treatment response. Incorporating sex differences into studies can improve patient outcomes for all sexes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Cancer is a complex group of diseases with significant variation even within subtypes.
- Personalized cancer treatment paradigms have not systematically incorporated the biology of sex differences.
- Sex differences in cancer can stem from sex hormones or genetic/epigenetic mechanisms of sexual differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review robust sex differences in core cancer pathways.
- To advocate for the inclusion of sex as a biological variable in all cancer research.
- To provide guidance on experimental design and statistical analysis for evaluating sex differences.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on sex differences in cancer biology.
- Discussion of experimental design principles for incorporating sex as a variable.
- Outline of appropriate statistical models for analyzing sex effects.
Main Results:
- Sex differences impact cancer from cellular transformation to treatment response and survival.
- Sexual differentiation influences virtually every body system, affecting cancer progression.
- Males and females exhibit distinct vulnerabilities and protections against cancer.
Conclusions:
- Sex is a fundamental biological variable that significantly influences cancer.
- Systematically incorporating sex into research is essential for advancing personalized cancer care.
- Evaluating sex differences rigorously will lead to improved outcomes for all cancer patients.
Keywords:
AngiogenesisCancerEpigeneticsImmunityMetabolismSenescenceSex differencesTumor Suppressorp53More Related Videos
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