Sex Disparities Matter in Cancer Development and Therapy

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Apr 21

PMID 33879867

Citations 114

Authors

Sue Haupt

Franco Caramia

Sabra L Klein

Joshua B Rubin

Ygal Haupt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Curing cancer through precision medicine is the paramount aim of the new wave of molecular and genomic therapies. Currently, whether patients with non-reproductive cancers are male or female according to their sex chromosomes is not adequately considered in patient standard of care. This is a matter of consequence because there is growing evidence that these cancer types generally initiate earlier and are associated with higher overall incidence and rates of death in males compared with females. Gender, in contrast to sex, refers to a chosen sexual identity. Hazardous lifestyle choices (notably tobacco smoking) differ in prevalence between genders, aligned with disproportionate cancer risk. These add to underlying genetic predisposition and influences of sex steroid hormones. Together, these factors affect metabolism, immunity and inflammation, and ultimately the fidelity of the genetic code. To accurately understand how human defences against cancer erode, it is crucial to establish the influence of sex. Our Perspective highlights evidence from basic and translational research indicating that including genetic sex considerations in treatments for patients with cancer will improve outcomes. It is now time to adopt the challenge of overhauling cancer medicine based on optimized treatment strategies for females and males.

Citing Articles

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Catalysing change in health and medical research policy: an Australian case study of deliberative democracy to reform sex and gender policy recommendations.

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