Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Visualizing DNA Damage Repair Proteins in Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Organoids via Immunofluorescence Assays
04:07

Visualizing DNA Damage Repair Proteins in Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Organoids via Immunofluorescence Assays

Published on: February 24, 2023

1.8K

Sex disparities in DNA damage response pathways: Novel determinants in cancer formation and therapy

Miriana Cardano1, Giacomo Buscemi1, Laura Zannini1

  • 1Istituto di Genetica Molecolare Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IGM-CNR), Pavia, Italy.

Iscience
|March 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Sexual disparities exist in cancer risk and outcomes. Understanding sex differences in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways is crucial for developing personalized cancer therapies and improving precision medicine approaches.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer incidence and survival rates exhibit significant differences between males and females across various tumor types.
  • These sex-based disparities, particularly in non-reproductive cancers, remain largely unexplained but offer potential for personalized treatment strategies.
  • Defects in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are a key driver of carcinogenesis, impacting genomic stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on sexual dimorphisms in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways.
  • To explore the role of these sex-based differences in cancer initiation and progression.
  • To highlight the importance of incorporating sex as a biological variable in cancer research and therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating sex differences in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways.
  • Analysis of existing data on cancer incidence, survival, and DDR mechanisms in relation to sex.
  • Synthesis of findings to identify implications for precision oncology.

Main Results:

  • Emerging evidence indicates significant sexual dimorphisms within DNA damage response (DDR) pathways.
  • These disparities in DDR pathways may contribute to observed differences in cancer risk and prognosis between sexes.
  • Understanding these sex-specific mechanisms opens new avenues for targeted cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Sexual dimorphisms in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are increasingly recognized as critical factors in cancer.
  • Further research into these sex differences is essential for advancing personalized cancer medicine.
  • Integrating sex as a biological variable in cancer research and treatment is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Keywords:
CancerCell biologyCellular physiology

More Related Videos

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging06:44

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2021

4.2K
Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage10:59

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Published on: August 21, 2021

3.7K

Related Concept Videos

Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
3.9K
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:37

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
9.4K
Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
31.9K
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:37

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

2.7K
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
3.2K
Fixing Double-strand Breaks02:04

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...
13.0K