Sex disparities in cancer mortality and survival

Differences in cancer survival by area-level socio-economic disadvantage: A population-based study using cancer registry data

Despite overall improvements in cancer survival due to earlier diagnosis and better treatment, socio-economically disadvantaged people have lower cancer survival than more advantaged people. We aimed to examine differences in cancer survival by area-level socio-economic disadvantage in Victoria, Australia and assess whether these inequalities varied by year of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, time since diagnosis and sex. Cases diagnosed with a first primary cancer in 2001–2015 were identified using the Victorian Cancer Registry and followed to the end of 2016. Five-year net survival and the excess risk of death due to a cancer diagnosis were estimated. People living in more disadvantaged areas had lower five-year survival than residents of less disadvantaged regions for 21 of 29 cancer types: head and neck, oesophagus, stomach, colorectum, anus/anal canal, liver, gallbladder/biliary tract, pancreas, lung, melanoma, connective/soft tissue, female breast, ovary, prostate, kidney, bladder, brain and central nervous system, unknown primary, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. The observed lower survival in more deprived regions persisted over time, except head and neck cancer, for which the gap in survival has widened. Socio-economic inequalities in survival decreased with increasing age at diagnosis for cancers of connective/soft tissue, bladder and unknown primary. For colorectal cancer, the observed survival disadvantage in lower socio-economic regions was greater for men than for women, while for brain and central nervous system tumours, it was larger for women. Cancer survival is generally lower for residents of more socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Identifying the underlying reasons for these inequalities is important and may help to identify effective interventions to increase survival for underprivileged cancer patients.

Aging and aging-associated diseases: a microRNA-based endocrine regulation hypothesis

Although there are numerous hypotheses explaining the nature of aging and associated processes, two concepts are dominant: (i) aging is a result of cell-autonomous processes, such as the accumulation of DNA mutations, aberrant methylations, protein defects, and shortening of telomeres, leading to either inhibition of cellular proliferation and death of non-dividing terminally differentiated cells or tumor development; (ii) aging is a result of a central program that is switched on at a specific stage of organismic development. The microRNA-based endocrine regulation hypothesis combines the two above concepts by proposing central regulation of cell death occurrences via hypothalamus-pituitary gland (PG)-secreted miRNA hormones, the expression and/or secretion of which are regulated by sex hormones. This hypothesis explains such well-known phenomena as inverse comorbidity of either cancer or Alzheimer’s (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases; higher AD morbidity and lower frequency of many common types of cancer in women vs. men; higher risk of early AD and lower risk of cancer in subjects with Down syndrome; longer life expectancy in women vs. men and much lower sex-dependent differences, if any, in other mammals; increased lifespans due to hypophysectomy or PG hypofunction; and parabiotic effects of blood or plasma transfusions between young and old animals.

Sex Differences in the Blood Transcriptome Identify Robust Changes in Immune Cell Proportions with Aging and Influenza Infection

Sex differences in autoimmunity and infection suggest that a better understanding of molecular sex differences will improve the diagnosis and treatment of immune-related disease. We identified 144 differentially expressed genes, referred to as immune sex expression signature (iSEXS), between human males and females using an integrated multi-cohort analysis of blood transcriptome profiles from six discovery cohorts from five continents with 458 healthy individuals. We validated iSEXS in 11 additional cohorts of 524 peripheral blood samples. When we separated iSEXS into genes located on sex chromosomes (XY-iSEXS) or autosomes (autosomal-iSEXS), both modules distinguished males and females. iSEXS reflects sex differences in immune cell proportions, with female-associated genes showing higher expression by CD4+ T cells and male-associated genes showing higher expression by myeloid cells. Autosomal-iSEXS detected an increase in monocytes with age in females, reflected sex-differential immune cell dynamics during influenza infection, and predicted antibody response in males, but not females.

Molecular Markers in Sex Differences in Cancer

Cancer is one of the common causes of death with a high degree of mortality, worldwide. In many types of cancers, if not all, sex-biased disparities have been observed. In these cancers, an individual's sex has been shown to be one of the crucial factors underlying the incidence and mortality of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that differentially expressed genes and proteins may contribute to sex-biased differences in male and female cancers. Therefore, identification of these molecular differences is important for early diagnosis of cancer, prediction of cancer prognosis, and determination of response to specific therapies. In the present review, we summarize the differentially expressed genes and proteins in several cancers including bladder, colorectal, liver, lung, and non-small cell lung cancers as well as renal clear cell carcinoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The sex-biased molecular differences were identified via proteomics, genomics, and big data analysis. The identified molecules represent potential candidates as sex-specific cancer biomarkers. Our study provides molecular insights into the impact of sex on cancers, suggesting strategies for sex-biased therapy against certain types of cancers.

Sex Differences in Cancer Driver Genes and Biomarkers

Cancer differs significantly between men and women; even after adjusting for known epidemiologic risk factors, the sexes differ in incidence, outcome, and response to therapy. These differences occur in many but not all tumor types, and their origins remain largely unknown. Here, we compare somatic mutation profiles between tumors arising in men and in women. We discovered large differences in mutation density and sex biases in the frequency of mutation of specific genes; these differences may be associated with sex biases in DNA mismatch repair genes or microsatellite instability. Sex-biased genes include well-known drivers of cancer such as β-catenin and BAP1 Sex influenced biomarkers of patient outcome, where different genes were associated with tumor aggression in each sex. These data call for increased study and consideration of the molecular role of sex in cancer etiology, progression, treatment, and personalized therapy.Significance: This study provides a comprehensive catalog of sex differences in somatic alterations, including in cancer driver genes, which influence prognostic biomarkers that predict patient outcome after definitive local therapy. Cancer Res; 78(19); 5527-37. ©2018 AACR.

Impact of Patients' Gender on Efficacy of Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Recent meta-analyses on checkpoint inhibitors in cancer report conflicting data regarding the association of patient gender with inhibitor efficacy. In advanced kidney cancer, checkpoint inhibitors have shown improved outcomes in first- and second-line settings compared with standard of care, but the role of patient gender on treatment outcome is unclear. We aimed to assess the efficacy of immunotherapy according to patient gender in advanced kidney cancer. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies published through February 16, 2019. Studies were included if they reported on the differential outcomes of male and female patients with metastatic kidney cancer receiving immunotherapy. Our outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS). Four randomized controlled trials comprising a total of 3664 patients (2715 males and 949 females) met our inclusion criteria. Both men and women with metastatic kidney cancer had an OS and PFS advantage with immunotherapy compared with standard-of-care, but no statistically significant difference between the genders was observed (OS hazard ratio [HR] for men, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.8; P = .40; HR for women, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48-0.81; P = .13; PFS HR for men, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.59-0.82; P = .24; HR for women, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90; P = .105). In patients with advanced kidney cancer receiving checkpoint inhibitors, there seems to be no association of patient gender with treatment outcome.

Monoclonal Antibodies in Dermatooncology-State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting specific proteins are currently the most popular form of immunotherapy used in the treatment of cancer and other non-malignant diseases. Since the first approval of anti-CD20 mAb rituximab in 1997 for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, the market is continuously booming and the clinically used mAbs have undergone a remarkable evolution. Novel molecular targets are constantly emerging and the development of genetic engineering have facilitated the introduction of modified mAbs with improved safety and increased capabilities to activate the effector mechanisms of the immune system. Next to their remarkable success in hematooncology, mAbs have also an already established role in the treatment of solid malignancies. The recent development of mAbs targeting the immune checkpoints has opened new avenues for the use of this form of immunotherapy, also in the immune-rich milieu of the skin. In this review we aim at presenting a comprehensive view of mAbs' application in the modern treatment of skin cancer. We present the characteristics and efficacy of mAbs currently used in dermatooncology and summarize the recent clinical trials in the field. We discuss the side effects and strategies for their managing.

Sex disparities in cancer

Sex is a key biological factor affecting the development of many cancer types. There are considerable differences between male and female subpopulations in terms of cancer incidence, prognosis and mortality. Recent studies have extensively characterized the sex-biased molecular changes in cancer patients. Further efforts should be made to develop sex-specific cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies.

Sex Differences in Cancer Immunotherapy Efficacy, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Strategy

Sex differences in innate and adaptive immune responses are known, and women generally mount a stronger immune response than men. Cancer immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, and sex differences in cancer immunotherapy are just starting to be revealed. Here, we summarize recent research progress concerning sex differences in cancer immunotherapy efficacy. On their own, ICIs tend to be more effective in male cancer patients compared with female patients, while ICIs combined with chemotherapy tend to be more effective in female patients than male patients. Male tumors are usually more antigenic than female tumors, and this is reflected by their increased number of tumor mutations and cancer germline antigens. The biomarker tumor mutational burden (TMB), which reflects tumor antigenicity, is more effective at predicting immunotherapy response for female lung cancer patients than for male patients. In this review, we propose different therapeutic strategies for the different sexes: For male cancer patients, the immune environment should be enhanced, whereas for female cancer patients, tumor antigenicity should be enhanced.

Bladder cancer survival: Women only fare worse in the first two years after diagnosis

OBJECTIVES

It has consistently been shown that women who are diagnosed with bladder cancer have lower survival than men, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Most studies assumed that the sex-specific mortality ratio is constant over time, possibly resulting in inaccurate estimates in various periods of follow-up. This study aimed to investigate the sex-specific excess mortality in bladder cancer patients and its variation over follow-up time.

METHODS

Observational cohort study. Using data from the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry, we studied 24,169 patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2014 with histologically confirmed ≥T1 bladder cancer with follow-up until January 2018. We used flexible parametric relative survival models to estimate excess mortality as a function of time for each sex and to explore the effect of covariates on these functions.

RESULTS

Female patients (24%) had worse clinical tumor, node, and metastasis-stage at diagnosis and more often a nonurothelial tumor histology. The excess mortality ratio of sex was not constant over time; in the first two years after diagnosis excess mortality rates for women were higher than for men, but lower thereafter; this applied to both nonmuscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer subgroups. Baseline differences in age, tumor, node, and metastasis-stage and histology accounted for only part of the excess mortality gap.

CONCLUSIONS

The assumption of proportional hazards over time leads to underestimation of the excess mortality ratio for women in the first two years and overestimation thereafter, when excess mortality is comparable for women and men. Clinicians should incorporate the initial sex-specific poorer outcome in their considerations regarding prognosis and treatment options for female patients, e.g., more invasive treatment and neo-adjuvant treatment. These findings also point towards a mechanism of micrometastatic disease, warranting assessment of sex-specific efficacy in randomized controlled trials on treatments in this patient population.

Understanding Differences in Cancer Survival between Populations: A New Approach and Application to Breast Cancer Survival Differentials between Danish Regions

Large variations in cancer survival have been recorded between populations, e.g., between countries or between regions in a country. To understand the determinants of cancer survival differentials between populations, researchers have often applied regression analysis. We here propose the use of a non-parametric decomposition method to quantify the exact contribution of specific components to the absolute difference in cancer survival between two populations. Survival differences are here decomposed into the contributions of differences in stage at diagnosis, population age structure, and stage-and-age-specific survival. We demonstrate the method with the example of differences in one-year and five-year breast cancer survival between Denmark’s five regions. Differences in stage at diagnosis explained 45% and 27%, respectively, of the one- and five-year survival differences between Zealand and Central Denmark for patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2010. We find that the introduced decomposition method provides a powerful complementary analysis and has several advantages compared with regression models: No structural or distributional assumptions are required; aggregated data can be used; and the use of absolute differences allows quantification of the survival that could be gained by improving, for example, stage at diagnosis relative to a reference population, thus feeding directly into health policy evaluation.

Low colorectal cancer survival in the Mountain West state of Nevada: A population-based analysis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third greatest cancer burden in the United States. The remarkably diverse Mountain West state of Nevada has uncharacteristically high CRC mortality compared to other Western states. We aimed to study the determinants of the CRC excess burden by using data from the Nevada Central Cancer Registry from 2003-2013. Five-year cause-specific age-adjusted survival from colorectal cancer was calculated and stratified by sex, race/ethnicity and region of Nevada. Cox Proportional Hazards regression modelling was used to study the impact of demographic, social, and clinical factors on CRC survival in Nevada, assessing follow-up as accurately as possible. The extent to which differences in survival can be explained by receipt of stage-appropriate treatment was also assessed. 12,413 CRC cases from 2003-2013 in Nevada were analyzed. Five-year CRC survival was low: 56.0% (95% CI: 54.6-57.5) among males and 59.5% (95% CI: 58.0-61.1) among females; significantly lower than national 5-year survival of 65.1% and 66.5%, respectively. Low survival was driven by populous Southern Nevada; after adjustment for all covariates, Southern Nevadans were at 17% higher risk of death than their counterparts in Northwestern Nevada (HR:1.17; 95% CI:1.08-1.27). Many patients did not receive stage-appropriate treatment, although this only partly explained the poor survival, uniformly low for every race/ethnicity in Nevada. The observed disparity for this one state within a single nation merits public health attention; regardless of the state or region of residence, all Americans deserve equal opportunity for optimum health outcomes in the face of a cancer diagnosis. The current study provides baseline information critical to clinicians, public health professionals, and all relevant stakeholders as they attempt to discern why Nevada's outcomes are vastly divergent from its neighboring Western states and make plans for remediation.

The Effect of Mouse Strain, Sex, and Carcinogen Dose on Toxicity and the Development of Lung Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Mice

In order to translate new treatments to the clinic, it is necessary to use animal models that closely recapitulate human disease. Lung cancer develops after extended exposure to carcinogens. It has one of the highest mutation rates of all cancer and is highly heterogenic. Topical treatment with N-nitrosotris-(2-chloroethyl)urea (NTCU) induces lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with nonsynonymous mutation rates similar to those reported for human non-small cell lung cancer. However, NTCU induces lung cancer with variable efficacy and toxicity depending on the mouse strain. A detailed characterization of the NTCU model is needed. We have compared the effect of three different NTCU doses (20, 30, and 40 mmol/L) in female and male of NIH Swiss, Black Swiss, and FVB mice on tumor incidence, survival, and toxicity. The main findings in this study are (1) NIH Swiss mice present with a higher incidence of SCC and lower mortality compared with Black Swiss and FVB mice; (2) 30 mmol/L NTCU dose induces SCC at the same rate and incidence as the 40 mmol/L dose with lower mortality; (3) female mice present higher grade and incidence of preinvasive lesions and SCC compared with males; (4) NTCU-induced transformation is principally within the respiratory system; and (5) NTCU treatment does not affect the ability to elicit a specific adaptive immune response. This study provides a reference point for experimental designs to evaluate either preventive or therapeutic treatments for lung SCC, including immunotherapies, before initiating human clinical trials.

The estrogen pathway as a modulator of response to immunotherapy

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of about 18%. Thus, there is a great need for novel therapeutic approaches to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes for a subset of patients, especially those with high programmed death-ligand 1 expression and/or high tumor mutational burden, but have failed in the majority of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the estrogen signaling pathway may be a therapeutic target in metastatic NSCLC and that the estrogen pathway may play a role in sex-based responses to ICIs. This report will review the epidemiologic, preclinical and clinical data on the estrogen pathway in NSCLC, its implications in sex-based responses to ICIs and the potential use of antiestrogen therapy in combination with ICIs.

Sex-, feeding-, and circadian time-dependency of P-glycoprotein expression and activity - implications for mechanistic pharmacokinetics modeling

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) largely influences the pharmacokinetics (PK) and toxicities of xenobiotics in a patient-specific manner so that personalized drug scheduling may lead to significant patient's benefit. This systems pharmacology study investigated P-gp activity in mice according to organ, sex, feeding status, and circadian time. Sex-specific circadian changes were found in P-gp ileum mRNA and protein levels, circadian amplitudes being larger in females as compared to males. Plasma, ileum and liver concentrations of talinolol, a pure P-gp substrate, significantly differed according to sex, feeding and circadian timing. A physiologically-based PK model was designed to recapitulate these datasets. Estimated mesors (rhythm-adjusted mean) of ileum and hepatic P-gp activity were higher in males as compared to females. Circadian amplitudes were consistently higher in females and circadian maxima varied by up to 10 h with respect to sex. Fasting increased P-gp activity mesor and dampened its rhythm. Ex-vivo bioluminescence recordings of ileum mucosae from transgenic mice revealed endogenous circadian rhythms of P-gp protein expression with a shorter period, larger amplitude, and phase delay in females as compared to males. Importantly, this study provided model structure and parameter estimates to refine PK models of any P-gp substrate to account for sex, feeding and circadian rhythms.

Role of chemotherapy in 5000 patients with head and neck cancer treated by curative surgery: A subgroup analysis of the meta-analysis of chemotherapy in head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of chemotherapy added to a surgical locoregional treatment (LRT) for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied the sub-group of trials with surgical LRT included in the meta-analysis on chemotherapy in head and neck cancer (MACH-NC). Data from published and unpublished randomized trials comparing the addition of chemotherapy to LRT in HNSCC patients were sought using electronic database searching for the period 1965-2000, hand searching and by contacting experts in the field. Trials with less than 60 patients, or preoperative radiotherapy or where the type of LRT could not be individually determined were excluded. All individual patient data were checked for internal consistency, compared with published reports, and validated with trialists. Data were pooled using a fixed-effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane test and I² statistic.

RESULTS

Twenty-four trials were eligible (5000 patients). Chemotherapy improved overall survival (HR = 0.92 [95%CI: 0.85-0.99] p = 0.02). There was a significant interaction between treatment effect and timing of chemotherapy (p = 0.08 at pre-specified threshold of 0.10) with a greater effect for concomitant chemotherapy (HR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.69-0.92). The benefit of chemotherapy was greater in women (HR_women = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.50-0.80) compared to men (HR_men = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.89-1.04; p for interaction = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis confirmed the benefit of concomitant chemotherapy added to surgical LRT. The role of induction therapy as yet to be determined as it did not improve OS. Women may benefit more than men from chemotherapy.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Systemic Therapy after Stereotactic Radiosurgery on Cancer Recurrence and All-Cause Mortality

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer often present with brain metastases in the setting of controlled extracranial disease, for which they receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and surgical resection. The role of systemic therapy after SRS is unclear. Brain metastasis indicates active cancer dissemination, and microscopic systemic disease may be present despite absence of gross disease as assessed by conventional imaging modalities.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine if post-SRS systemic therapy reduces the risk of brain relapse, systemic relapse, and death in patients with brain metastases and controlled extracranial disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 67 patients with controlled extracranial disease who received SRS for brain metastases. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess how post-SRS systemic therapy affected the risk of brain relapse, systemic relapse, and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

In our sample, 31% of patients received systemic therapy after SRS. Post-SRS systemic therapy did not affect median time to brain relapse (P = 0.43), systemic relapse (P = 0.16), or death (P = 0.33) by univariate analysis. After accounting for confounding factors such as cancer histology and age, post-SRS systemic therapy significantly reduced the risk of brain relapse (hazard ratio [HR], 0.22; P = 0.002) but not systemic relapse (HR, 0.38; P = 0.09) or all-cause mortality (HR, 2.16; P = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Only a minority of patients with brain metastases and controlled extracranial disease receive adjuvant systemic therapy after SRS, but those that do have a reduced risk of brain relapse. Post-SRS systemic therapy may act prophylactically to reduce the risk of intracranial cancer recurrence.

Effect of sex on the efficacy of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising efficacy in the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sex‐associated dimorphism in immune system response is acknowledged, but the effect of patients’ sex on efficacy of ICIs as treatment in NSCLC still remains controversial. The present study was conducted to investigate the difference in efficacy of NSCLC patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors according to the sex. A total of 9583 patients involved 6567 men and 3016 women with advanced lung cancer from 15 randomized controlled trials were included in this study. An overall survival (OS) benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors was illustrated in both male (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.71‐0.82) and female (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.58‐0.91) patients, and a progression‐free survival (PFS) benefit was also found in both men (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.58‐0.77) and women (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56‐0.95) in NSCLC. Both PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors alone and PD‐1/PD‐L1 plus chemotherapy significantly improved the OS and PFS in male patients. Whereas in females, PD‐1 inhibitors or monotherapy significantly benefited the OS but not the PFS, PD‐L1 inhibitors or combination therapy significantly prolonged the PFS but not the OS. No survival benefit was found in both male and female patients from the CTLA‐4 inhibitors. The current study indicated that the magnitude of survival benefit is sex‐dependent and male patients seemed to obtain more consistent and favorable outcomes from ICIs than women patients in NSCLC.

Smoking History Decreases Survival in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Mouth: A Retrospective Study with 15 Years of Follow-up

Background:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of smoking history on the clinical-pathological, sociodemographic and prognostic characteristics of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was carried out with the records of 136 smokers with SCC and 68 nonsmokers with oral SCC who were diagnosed and treated at Haroldo Juaçaba Hospital (2000-2014). Data on patient sex, age, race, education level, tumor location, tumor size, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, treatment type, marital status, method of health care access (public or private health systems) and overall survival (15 years) were analyzed by the X² test, Mantel-Cox tests and multinomial and Cox logistic regression models (SPSS 20.0, p <0.05).

Results:

Smoking history was directly associated with male sex (p <0.001), low levels of education (p = 0.001), tumors of the mouth and palate (p = 0.001), stage T3/4 tumors (p = 0.014), lymph node metastasis (N+) (p = 0.024), palliative treatment (p = 0.024) and receiving health care through the public health system (p = 0.006), with education level being the only independently associated factor (p = 0.039). Lower survival was observed in patients who were smokers (p = 0,002), with low levels of education (p = 0.001), who had stage T3/4 tumors (p = 0.004), with N+ (p = 0.021), and had received palliative treatment (p = 0.002). Age (>65 years old, p = 0.015) and T staging (T3/4, p = 0.033) decreased the survival of SCC patients regardless of the other factors.

Conclusions:

Smoking history had an independent association with low education level and a history of alcoholism, and survival was negatively associated with older age and larger tumor size, which were more prevalent in smokers.

Sex Differences in Melanoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of this review has been to elucidate the sex differences in cancer incidence and mortality in cutaneous melanoma. We have evaluated biological and behavioral research to determine where the critical questions exist.

RECENT FINDINGS

The most recent findings, through 2015, are exploratory in nature but seem to indicate that the differences are more likely due to biological variations rather than behavioral. While behavioral studies do show that women are more likely than men to seek health care and practice healthy behaviors, these differences are not sufficiently strong to explain the variation in incidence and mortality in cutaneous melanoma. Evolved differences in the immune systems of females and the role of sex steroid hormones in immunomodulation are two promising avenues for research. Studies in mice demonstrate that the newer immunotherapies are more effective in females and sex steroid hormones, such as estrogen receptor beta are inversely associated with tumor aggressiveness while testosterone increases it.

SUMMARY

Our analysis indicates that biological factors need to be investigated more thoroughly to understand the variation in incidence and mortality in cutaneous melanoma. Such understanding could lead to reducing incidence and mortality for both males and females (male incidence is 27.4 per 100,000; female 16.8 per 100,000; male mortality is 3.9 per 100,000; female mortality 1.6 per 100,000). It is most likely that behavioral differences between the sexes cannot account for the preponderance of male mortality. In addition to the important role of genetic factors, it is critical to evaluate further additional biological factors and their interactions with genetics and behavior.

Sex disparities in salivary malignancies: Does female sex impact oncological outcome?

OBJECTIVE

Previous population-based studies in salivary gland carcinomas have described a relationship between female sex and superior oncological outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our institutional database of 884 surgically treated patients with salivary gland malignancies from 1985 to 2015 was analyzed for the impact of sex on oncological outcomes. Histologies were classified in three risk groups, low, intermediate and high. Survival outcomes were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Hazard ratios for male sex were determined using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Eight hundred sixty-seven patients were identified; median age was 59 years, and 51% had a minor salivary gland malignancy. Female patients were younger (58 versus 60 years; p = 0.040) and had a lower incidence of high-risk histologies (25% versus 40%, p < 0.001) and T3-T4 tumors compared to men (23% versus 31%, p < 0.001). With a median follow-up of 57 months, female patients had a superior 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) (90% versus 79%; p < 0.001). The unadjusted hazard ratio showed male patients had a 2.15-fold increased risk of death (HR 2.15; 95% CI, 1.50-3.06, p < 0.001). After adjusting for Charlson comorbidity index, tobacco use, histological risk group, and overall pathological stage, males still had a statistically significant increased risk of death (HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.05-2.17; p = 0.047). Subgroup analysis showed DSS for females was significantly better in the high-risk histological group (5-year 68% versus 49%, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that sex has an impact on cancer-specific survival and that female sex favors improved survival.

Current trends in the features of male thyroid cancer: Retrospective evaluation of their prognostic value

This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic outcomes of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients according to sex. Then, we validated prognostic variables to determine whether sex is a significant prognostic factor for PTC.Between January 2007 and December 2010, 1232 men and 7276 women PTC patients underwent surgery. The patient characteristics and 5-year oncologic outcomes were compared. The stepwise Cox proportional hazards model determined the significance of survival variables.Men PTC patients had more lymph node (LN) metastases than women, both in the total (P < .0001) and hemithyroidectomy (P < .0001) patients. Men and women showed similar 5-year recurrence-free survivals, both in total (P = .815) and hemithyroidectomy (P = .148) patients. The tumor size and the number of positive central nodes were associated with tumor recurrence, but not sex.Sex was not an independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence. Multicenter clinical studies with long-term follow-ups are needed to validate these results.

Testis-specific protein, Y-linked 1 activates PI3K/AKT and RAS signaling pathways through suppressing IGFBP3 expression during tumor progression

The testis‐specific protein, Y‐linked 1 (TSPY1), a newly recognized cancer/testis antigen, has been suggested to accelerate tumor progression. However, the mechanisms underlying TSPY1 cancer‐related function remain limited. By mining the RNA sequencing data of lung and liver tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we found frequent ectopic expression of TSPY1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and the male‐specific protein was associated with higher mortality rate and worse overall survival in patients with LUAD and LIHC. Overexpression of TSPY1 promotes cell proliferation, invasiveness, and cycle transition and inhibits apoptosis, whereas TSPY1 knockdown has the opposite effects on these cancer cell phenotypes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the involvement of TSPY1 in PI3K/AKT and RAS signaling pathways in both LUAD and LIHC cells, which was further confirmed by the increase in the levels of phosphorylated proteins in the PI3K‐AKT and RAS signaling pathways in TSPY1‐overexpressing cancer cells, and by the suppression on the activity of these two pathways in TSPY1‐knockdown cells. Further investigation identified that TSPY1 could directly bind to the promoter of insulin growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) to inhibit IGFBP3 expression and that downregulation of IGFBP3 increased the activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR/BCL2 and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK/JUN signaling in LUAD and LIHC cells. Taken together, the observations reveal a novel mechanism by which TSPY1 could contribute to the progression of LUAD and LIHC. Our finding is of importance for evaluating the potential of TSPY1 in immunotherapy of male tumor patients with TSPY1 expression.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Variables Affect Meiotic Cell Cycle Progression, Tumor Ploidy, and Cancer-Associated Mortality in a brca2-Mutant Zebrafish Model

Successful cell replication requires both cell cycle completion and accurate chromosomal segregation. The tumor suppressor BRCA2 is positioned to influence both of these outcomes, and thereby influence genomic integrity, during meiotic and mitotic cell cycles. Accordingly, mutations in BRCA2 induce chromosomal abnormalities and disrupt cell cycle progression in both germ cells and somatic cells. Despite these findings, aneuploidy is not more prevalent in BRCA2-associated versus non-BRCA2-associated human cancers. More puzzlingly, diploidy in BRCA2-associated cancers is a negative prognostic factor, unlike non-BRCA2-associated cancers and many other human cancers. We used a brca2-mutant/tp53-mutant cancer-prone zebrafish model to explore the impact of BRCA2 mutation on cell cycle progression, ploidy, and cancer-associated mortality by performing DNA content/cell cycle analysis on zebrafish germ cells, somatic cells, and cancer cells. First, we determined that combined brca2/tp53 mutations uniquely disrupt meiotic progression. Second, we determined that sex significantly influences ploidy outcome in zebrafish cancers. Third, we determined that brca2 mutation and female sex each significantly reduce survival time in cancer-bearing zebrafish. Finally, we provide evidence to support a link between BRCA2 mutation, tumor diploidy, and poor survival outcome. These outcomes underscore the utility of this model for studying BRCA2-associated genomic aberrations in normal and cancer cells.

Trend and projection of mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases in Iran: A modeling study

Background

Following the epidemiologic and demographic transition, non-communicable disease mortality is the leading cause of death in Iran. Projecting mortality trend can provide valuable tools for policy makers and planners. In this article, we have estimated the trend of non-communicable disease mortality during 2001–2015 and have projected it until 2030 at national and subnational levels in Iran.

Methods

The data employed was gathered from the Iranian death registration system and using the Spatio-temporal model, the trends of 4 major categories of non-communicable diseases (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and COPD, and diabetes) by 2030 were projected at the national and subnational levels.

Results

The results indicated that age standardized mortality rate for cancers, CVDs, and Asthma and COPD will continue to decrease in both sexes (cancers: from 81.8 in 2015 to 45.2 in 2030, CVDs: 307.3 to 173.0, and Asthma and COPD: from 52.1 to 46.6); however, in terms of diabetes, there is a steady trend in both sexes at national level (from 16.6 to 16.5). Age standardized mortality rates for cancers and CVDs, in males and females, were high in all provinces in 2001. The variation between the provinces is clearer in 2015, and it is expected to significantly decrease in all provinces by 2030.

Conclusion

Generally, the age standardized mortality rate from NCDs will decrease by 2030. Of course, given the experience of the past two decades in Iran, believing that the mortality rate will decrease may not be an easy notion to understand. However hard to believe, this decrease may be the result of better management of risk factors and early detection of patients due to more comprehensive care in all segments of society, as well as improved literacy and awareness across the country.

TNFSF15 promoter polymorphisms increase the susceptibility to small cell lung cancer: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) is closely related to tumorigenesis and development. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between TNFSF15 polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.

METHODS

This case-control study included 209 small cell lung cancer patients (SCLC), 340 non- small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) and 460 health controls. TNFSF15-638 A > G and - 358 T > C polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Our results showed that subjects carrying the TNFSF15-638GG genotype or -358CC genotype were more likely to develop SCLC (-638GG, OR = 1.84, 95%CI = 1.13-2.99; -358CC, OR = 2.44, 95%CI = 1.46-4.06), but not NSCLC (P > 0.05). In stratified analysis, -638GG genotype was related to SCLC among males (OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.09-3.45, P = 0.023) and older patients (OR = 2.93, 95%CI = 1.44-8.68, P = 0.006). However, -358CC genotype was associated with SCLC among females (OR = 8.42, 95%CI = 2.22-31.89, P = 0.002) and older subjects with OR (95%CI) of 11.04 (3.57-34.15) (P < 0.001). Moreover, TNFSF15 -358CC was linked with a higher risk of SCLC among non-smokers (OR = 2.54, 95%CI = 1.20-5.35, P = 0.015) but not among smokers (OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 0.92-3.84, P = 0.086).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the importance of TNFSF15 polymorphisms in the development of SCLC.

Time trend of breast cancer mortality in BRAZILIAN men: 10-year data analysis from 2005 to 2015

Background

Male Breast Cancer (MBC) is rare, which makes its understanding and treatment be extrapolated from what is known about the occurrence in women, with few epidemiological studies, with few epidemiological studies. Therefore, the aim of the present paper was to study breast cancer mortality in adult males in Brazil and its administrative regions between 2005 and 2015.

Methods

Ecological study with data on MBC mortality in adults between 2005 and 2015. Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System of the Department of Informatics of SUS (the Unified Health System of the country). Descriptive statistics were used for MBC mortality and linear regression to analyze the relationship between mortality and the country’s administrative regions. Percentage Change (PC) and Annual Percentage Change (APC) were the trend measures used for MBC mortality for the period.

Results

Between 2005 and 2015, there were 1521 deaths due to MBC in adults in Brazil. Regarding mortality by region, there was great oscillation in the rates of the country as a whole (PC = 113,87; β = 0,009 (IC95% 0,000 – 0,018); r² = 0,381; P = 0,043). The highest increase in MBC mortality occurred in patients aged 80 years or older (PC = 161,04; β = 0,201 (IC95% 0,640 - 0,339); r² = 0,550; P = 0,009) and there was significant increase in deaths for the 50–54-year age group (PC = 224,01; β = 0,135 (CI95% 0,052; 0,218); r² = 0,601; P = 0,005).

Conclusion

Mortality in adults due to MBC increased in Brazil during the study period with the highest percentage increase occurring for individuals aged 80 years or older.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-5261-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Clinical Significance of Gender and Body Mass Index in Asian Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Objective: Colorectal cancer is a disease closely associated with anthropometric values. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of gender and body mass index (BMI) with colorectal cancer using a Korean nationwide cohort. Methods: Data of colorectal cancer cohorts between 2012 and 2013 were acquired from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. All patients underwent surgery due to colorectal cancers. Stage IV patients were excluded due to possible clinical heterogeneity. BMI was classified with the World Health Organization criteria. Results: A total of 31,756 patients were analyzed. The underweight group had 33% higher risk of stage III disease (p<0.001). The overweight and obese groups had 20% and 19% lower risk of stage III (p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). The underweight and obese groups had higher risk of longest hospitalization period quartile (≥19 days), with odds ratio of 2.26 (p<0.001) and 1.33 (p<0.001), respectively. The overweight group had a 22% lower risk of the longest hospitalization period quartile (p=0.002). Females had 12% lower risk of distal cancer than males (p<0.001). There was no significant relationship between cancer stage and gender. The proportions of patients who were <50 years and ≥70 years old were higher in the females, and the proportions of patients in their 50s and 60s were higher in the males. Conclusions: Cancer stages and hospitalization period varied depending on BMI. Disease location and the age distribution were affected by gender.

Impact of Sex on Chemotherapy Toxicity and Efficacy Among Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Pooled Analysis of 5 Randomized Trials

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of sex on toxicity and efficacy outcomes among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving first-line 5-fluorouracil-based regimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A pooled analysis of data sets from 5 clinical trials (NCT00115765, NCT00364013, NCT00272051, NCT00305188, NCT00384176) was performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank testing were used to assess the differences in overall and progression-free survival between male and female subjects. Chi-square testing was used to examine the differences in the incidence of different toxicities between male and female subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted for age, body mass index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, race, bevacizumab-containing treatment, and panitumumab-containing treatment) was further utilized to assess the impact of gender on different toxicities. Most of the patients were treated with FOLFOX (folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin)-based regimens.

RESULTS

A total of 3223 participants were included in the pooled cohort, among which were 1925 male and 1298 female subjects. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank testing were utilized to compare overall and progression-free survival outcomes between male and female subjects. For both end points, there was no difference between male and female subjects (P = .884; P = .647, respectively). Comparing female to male subjects, female subjects were more likely to experience alopecia (20% vs. 8.6%; P < .001), all-grade diarrhea (60.3% vs. 56.7%; P = .039), all-grade nausea and vomiting (68.7% vs. 56.6%; P < .001), high-grade nausea and vomiting (7.1% vs. 4.5%; P = .002), all-grade anemia (19.6% vs. 14.2%; P < .001), all-grade neutropenia (51.1% vs. 36.6%; P < .001), and high-grade neutropenia (37.1% vs. 24.1%; P < .001). These differences were further confirmed in multivariate logistic regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

Female subjects with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy demonstrated higher rates of a number of toxicities (essentially hematologic and gastrointestinal in nature). Additional studies into the differential effect of systemic therapy on female versus male subjects are needed.

Demographic disparities in delay of definitive chemoradiation for anal squamous cell carcinoma: a nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

Prolonged time to treatment initiation (TTI) for patients with curable anal cancer may reduce tumor control. This study investigated demographic disparities in TTI for patients receiving definitive chemoradiation (CRT) for anal squamous cell carcinoma (A-SCC).

METHODS

Adult patients with A-SCC diagnosed from 2004 to 2014 and treated with definitive CRT were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). TTI was defined as days from diagnosis to start of CRT. A negative binomial regression model estimated predicted TTI (pTTI) values. Cox proportional hazards model evaluated the impact of TTI on overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Overall, 12,546 patients were included with 9% Non-Hispanic Black patients and 4% Hispanic patients. Multivariable analysis (MVA) showed that pTTI varied significantly by race/ethnicity with Non-Hispanic Black patients having a pTTI of 50 vs. 38 days for Non-Hispanic White patients [relative risk (RR), 1.21; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-1.25]. For Hispanic patients, pTTI was 48 days, significantly longer than that of Non-Hispanic White patients (RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.14-1.24). Gender, insurance status, education level, urban category, distance to reporting facility, treatment facility type, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)/proton use, T/N classification, and comorbidity status were all also associated with significant variation in TTI. TTI was not independently associated with changes in OS on MVA [hazard ratio (HR), 0.999; 95% CI, 0.997-1.002].

CONCLUSIONS

Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients have longer delays in starting definitive CRT for A-SCC. While TTI was not associated with OS, future analyses should explore the impact of TTI on local control, metastases, and patient-reported outcomes.

Comparison of Comorbid Conditions Between Cancer Survivors and Age-Matched Patients Without Cancer

Background

Cancer survivors suffer from many comorbid conditions even after the cure of their cancers beyond 5 years. We explored the differences in the association of comorbid conditions between the cancer survivors and patients without cancer.

Methods

Electronic medical records of 280 adult cancer survivors and 280 age-matched patients without cancer in our suburban internal medicine office were reviewed.

Results

Mean age of the cancer survivors was 72.5 ± 13.1 years, and the age of the patients without cancer was 72.5 ± 12.8 years. The number of male cancer survivors was significantly higher than the female cancer survivors (52.5% vs. 47.5%, P < 0.001). There were significantly more Caucasians and other races (majority Asians) in the cancer survivor group compared to the patients without cancer group (81.8% vs. 79.3% and 4.6% vs. 0.4%, respectively, P < 0.05); while there were significantly less African Americans and Hispanics in the cancer survivor group compared to the patients without cancer group (10.0% vs. 12.8% and 3.6% vs. 7.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). Hypertension (64.3%), hyperlipidemia (56.1%), osteoarthritis (34.3%), hypothyroidism (21.8%), diabetes mellitus (21.8%) and coronary artery disease (21.8%) were the most common comorbid conditions observed in the cancer survivors. Osteoarthritis was the only comorbid condition that was significantly less frequently associated with the cancer survivors compared to the patients without cancer (42.9%, P < 0.05). The frequencies of all other comorbid conditions were not significantly different between the two groups. The majority of our group of cancer survivors had one or more types of the top six cancers which include prostate cancer (30.7%), melanoma (13.9%), thyroid cancer (11.4%), colon cancer (11.1%), uterine cancer (11.1%) and urinary bladder cancer (11.1%); while only a few had cancer of the cervix (6.1%) or breast cancer (0.3%). Use of aspirin, statin, vitamin D, multivitamins, metformin and fish oil supplement in the cancer survivors was similar to the patients without cancer.

Conclusions

Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are the most common associated comorbid conditions in the cancer survivors. Osteoarthritis is less frequently seen in the cancer survivors compared to the patients without cancer. The frequencies of other comorbid conditions are not significantly different between the two groups.

Survival and associated factors among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda

Background

Despite improvements in diagnosis and patient management, survival and prognostic factors of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains largely unknown in most of Sub Saharan Africa.

Objective

To establish survival and associated factors among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated at Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among histologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients seen at our centre from January 1st 2002 to December 31st 2011. Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier method and comparison between associated variables made using Log rank-test. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine independent predictors of survival. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 384 patients (229 males and 155 females) were included in this analysis. The overall mean age was 55.2 (SD 4.1) years. The 384 patients studied contributed a total of 399.17 person-years of follow-up. 111 deaths were observed, giving an overall death rate of 27.81 per 100 person-years [95% CI; 22.97-32.65]. The two-year and five-year survival rates were 43.6% (135/384) and 20.7% (50/384), respectively. Tumours arising from the lip had the best five-year survival rate (100%), while tumours arising from the floor of the mouth, alveolus and the gingiva had the worst prognosis with five-year survival rates of 0%, 0% and 15.9%, respectively. Independent predictors of survival were clinical stage (p = 0.001), poorly differentiated histo-pathological grade (p <  0.001), male gender (p = 0.001), age > 55 years at time of diagnosis (p = 0.02) and moderately differentiated histo-pathological grade (p = 0.027). However, tobacco & alcohol consumption, tumour location and treatment group were not associated with survival (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The five-year survival rate of OSCC was poor at 20.7%. Male gender, late clinical stage at presentation, poor histo-pathological types and advanced age were independent prognostic factors of survival. Early detection through screening and prompt treatment could improve survival.

Peer support opportunities across the cancer care continuum: a systematic scoping review of recent peer-reviewed literature

OBJECTIVE

Evidence suggests peer support (PS) is as an effective strategy for enhancing prevention and control of chronic and infectious diseases, including cancer. This systematic scoping review examines the range and variety of interventions on the use of PS across the cancer care continuum.

METHOD

We used a broad definition of PS to capture a wide-range of interventions and characterize the current status of the field. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, and CINAHL to identify relevant articles published from January 2011 to June 2016. We screened the title and abstracts of 2087 articles, followed by full-text screening of 420 articles, resulting in a final sample of 242 articles of which the most recent 100 articles were reviewed (published June 2014 to May 2016).

RESULTS

A number of the recent intervention studies focused on breast cancer (32%, breast cancer only) or multiple cancer sites (23%). Although the interventions spanned all phases of the cancer care continuum, only 2% targeted end-of-life care. Seventy-six percent focused on clinical outcomes (e.g., screening, treatment adherence) and 72% on reducing health disparities. Interventions were primarily phone-based (44%) or delivered in a clinic setting (44%). Only a few studies (22%) described the impact of providing PS on peer supporters.

CONCLUSION

PS appears to be a widely used approach to address needs across the cancer care continuum, with many opportunities to expand its reach.

Radiotherapy patterns of care for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer in Sydney, Australia

INTRODUCTION

Curative radiotherapy is guideline treatment for inoperable patients of good performance status with Stage I & II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate radiotherapy patterns of care in these patients, the reasons for palliative treatment and the proportion of patients suitable for curative stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR).

METHODS

Electronic oncology databases at three institutions were queried to retrieve data on patients with inoperable Stage I & II NSCLC seen in radiation oncology clinics between 1/1/2008 and 31/12/2014. Suitability for SABR was defined as peripheral tumours less than 5 cm in size. Factors associated with curative treatment were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Three-hundred-and-twelve patients were identified of whom 178 (57%) received curative radiotherapy, 58 (19%) palliative radiotherapy and 76 (24%) no radiotherapy. The main reason for receiving palliative rather than curative treatment was COPD or poor pulmonary function (26%). Method of diagnosis (P = 0.031), Simplified Comorbidity Score (P = 0.003), ECOG performance status (P = 0.016), FEV1% (P = 0.040), treating institution (P < 0.0001) and time period (P = 0.016) were associated with curative radiotherapy on multivariate analysis. In patients with T1-2N0M0 NSCLC, 19 (31%) who did not receive treatment and 7 (21%) who underwent palliative radiotherapy were technically and clinically suitable for SABR.

CONCLUSION

Only 57% of patients with Stage I-II NSCLC were treated with curative radiotherapy. Patient factors were the predominant reason for palliative treatment, however, treating institution also played a role. A considerable proportion of patients who underwent palliative or no radiotherapy were suitable for SABR treatment.

A review of sex-related differences in colorectal cancer incidence, screening uptake, routes to diagnosis, cancer stage and survival in the UK

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an illness strongly influenced by sex and gender, with mortality rates in males significantly higher than females. There is still a dearth of understanding on where sex differences exist along the pathway from presentation to survival. The aim of this review is to identify where actions are needed to improve outcomes for both sexes, and to narrow the gap for CRC.

Methods

A cross-sectional review of national data was undertaken to identify sex differences in incidence, screening uptake, route to diagnosis, cancer stage at diagnosis and survival, and their influence in the sex differences in mortality.

Results

Overall incidence is higher in men, with an earlier age distribution, however, important sex differences exist in anatomical site. There were relatively small differences in screening uptake, route to diagnosis, cancer staging at diagnosis and survival. Screening uptake is higher in women under 69 years. Women are more likely to present as emergency cases, with more men diagnosed through screening and two-week-wait. No sex differences are seen in diagnosis for more advanced disease. Overall, age-standardised 5-year survival is similar between the sexes.

Conclusions

As there are minimal sex differences in the data from routes to diagnosis to survival, the higher mortality of colorectal cancer in men appears to be a result of exogenous and/or endogenous factors pre-diagnosis that lead to higher incidence rates. There are however, sex and gender differences that suggest more targeted interventions may facilitate prevention and earlier diagnosis in both men and women.

All-Cause and Cancer Mortality Trends in Macheng, China (1984⁻2013): An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

The aim was to study the variation trends of all-cause and cancer mortality during 1984⁻2013 in Macheng City, China. The mortality data were collected from Macheng City disease surveillance points system and Hubei Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The model life table system was used to adjust mortality rates due to an under-reporting problem. An age-period-cohort model and intrinsic estimator algorithm were used to estimate the age effect, period effect, and cohort effect of all-cause mortality and cancer mortality for males and females. Age effect of all-cause mortality for both sexes increased with age, while the age effect of cancer mortality for both sexes reached a peak at the age group of 55⁻59 years old and then decreased. The relative risks (RRs) of all-cause mortality for males and females declined with the period and decreased by 51.13% and 63.27% during the whole study period, respectively. Furthermore, the period effect of cancer mortality in both sexes decreased at first and then increased. The cohort effect of all-cause and cancer mortality for both sexes born after 1904 presented the pattern of "rise first and then fall," and decreased by 82.18% and 90.77% from cohort 1904⁻1908 to 1989⁻1993, respectively; especially, the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality for both sexes born before 1949 was much higher than that for those born after 1949.

Differences in cancer survival by sex: a population-based study using cancer registry data

PURPOSE

Few large-scale studies have investigated sex differences in cancer survival and little is known about their temporal and age-related patterns.

METHODS

We used cancer registry data for first primary cancers diagnosed between 1982 and 2015 in Victoria, Australia. Cases were followed until the end of 2015 through linkage to death registries. Differences in survival were assessed for 25 cancers using the Pohar-Perme estimator of net survival and the excess mortality rate ratio (EMRR) adjusting for age and year of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Five-year net survival for all cancers combined was lower for men (47.1%; 95% CI 46.9-47.4) than women (52.0%; 95% CI 51.7-52.3); EMRR 1.13 (95% CI 1.12-1.14; p < 0.001). A survival disadvantage for men was observed for 11 cancers: head and neck, esophagus, colorectum, pancreas, lung, bone, melanoma, mesothelioma, kidney, thyroid, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In contrast, women had lower survival from cancers of the bladder, renal pelvis, and ureter. For the majority of cancers with survival differences, the EMRR decreased with increasing age at diagnosis; for colorectal, esophageal, and kidney cancer, the EMRR increased with time since diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Identifying the underlying reasons behind sex differences in cancer survival is necessary to address inequalities, which may improve outcomes for men and women.

Sex-Dependent Staging in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer; Analysis of the Effect of Sex Differences in the Eighth Edition of the Tumor, Node, Metastases Staging System

INTRODUCTION

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has disproportionately negative outcomes in men compared with women. The importance of the relationship between sex and tumor, node, metastases (TNM) staging system remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sex on NSCLC survival for each stage in the eighth edition of the TNM staging system in NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two cohorts treated surgically with curative intent between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed. The primary cohort was from Australia with a second population set from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate analyses of putative and validated prognostic factors were undertaken to investigate sex-dependent prognostication with detailed analyses of sex differences in each TNM stage. The primary outcome was disease-specific survival (DSS) at 5 years.

RESULTS

Inclusion criteria were met by 555 patients in the Australian cohort, 335 men (60.4%) and 220 (39.6%) women; and 47,706 patients from the SEER cohort, 24,671 men (51.7%) and 23,035 women (48.3%). Five-year DSS was significantly worse for men in multivariate analyses for the Australian (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.98; P = .026) and SEER (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.20-1.28; P < .001) cohorts. Detailed analysis of TNM stage sex differences revealed a consistent pattern of men having worse survival than women across stages in both cohorts.

CONCLUSION

The poorer survival in men with NSCLC presents research and clinical communities with an important challenge. This study's findings suggest that for men and women diagnosed with NSCLC, and managed surgically, stage-specific outcomes should be quoted separately and consideration to a rapid prognostic score with sex combined with staging as a key element.

Sex differences in the 1-year risk of dying following all-cause and cause-specific hospital admission after age 50 in comparison with a general and non-hospitalised population: a register-based cohort study of the Danish population

OBJECTIVES

We examine the mortality of men and women within the first year after all-cause and cause-specific hospital admission to investigate whether the sex differences in mortality after hospitalisation are higher than in the corresponding general and non-hospitalised population.

DESIGN

This is a population-based, longitudinal study with nationwide coverage. The study population was identified by linking the National Patient Register with the Central Population Register using a 5% random sample of the Danish population.

SETTING

The population born between 1898 and 1961, who was alive and residing in Denmark after 1977, was followed up between 1977 and 2011 with respect to hospital admissions and mortality while aged 50-79.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The absolute sex differences in the 1-year risk of dying after all-cause and cause-specific hospital admission. The hospitalised population sex differentials were then compared with the sex differences in a general and a non-hospitalised population, randomly matched by age, sex and hospitalisation status.

RESULTS

The risk of dying was consistently higher for hospitalised men and women. At all ages, the absolute sex differences in mortality were largest in the hospitalised population, were smaller in the general population and were smallest in the non-hospitalised population. This pattern was consistent across all-cause admissions, and with respect to admissions for neoplasms, circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases. For all-cause hospital admissions, absolute sex differences in the 1-year risk of dying resulted in 43.8 excess male deaths per 1,000 individuals within the age range 50-79, while the levels were lower in the general and the non-hospitalised population, at levels of 13.5 and 6.6, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates a larger male disadvantage in mortality following hospitalisation, pointing towards an association between the health status of a population and the magnitude of the female advantage in mortality.

Fetal microchimerism in human brain tumors

Sex differences in cancer incidence and survival, including central nervous system tumors, are well documented. Multiple mechanisms contribute to sex differences in health and disease. Recently, the presence of fetal-in-maternal microchimeric cells has been shown to have prognostic significance in breast and colorectal cancers. The frequency and potential role of these cells has not been investigated in brain tumors. We therefore selected two common primary adult brain tumors for this purpose: meningioma, which is sex hormone responsive and has a higher incidence in women, and glioblastoma, which is sex hormone independent and occurs more commonly in men. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the presence of male DNA in tumor samples from women with a positive history of male pregnancy and a diagnosis of either glioblastoma or meningioma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the X and Y chromosomes was used to verify the existence of intact male cells within tumor tissue. Fetal microchimerism was found in approximately 80% of glioblastoma cases and 50% of meningioma cases. No correlations were identified between the presence of microchimerism and commonly used clinical or molecular diagnostic features of disease. The impact of fetal microchimeric cells should be evaluated prospectively.

Sex differences in patients with high risk HPV-associated and HPV negative oropharyngeal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancer is now recognized as a distinct clinical entity from HPV-negative tumors, which are primarily associated with tobacco and alcohol exposure.Little is known, however, about the behavior of HPV-associated oropharynx (OP) and oral cavity (OC) SCCs as two distinct cancers and how sex affects the overall survival (OS) in these two cancers. The objective of our study is to determine if sex is associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in the oropharynx and oral cavity sites.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study using a national database. Data were extracted from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of patients diagnosed with OP or OC SCC from 2010 to 2014. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were conducted with chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards multivariable modeling.

RESULTS

A total of 30,707 patients (13,694 OP HPV-associated, 7933 OP HPV-, 1220 OC HPV-associated, 7860 OC HPV-) were identified. In all four groups, women tended to be older and have lower T and N clinical classification than men. Though there were no significant differences in OS between the sexes in OP HPV-associated cancers, female sex was associated with worse OS in OP HPV- cancers (HR: 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.28, p = 0.004), whereas it was associated with improved OS in OC HPV-associated and HPV- cancers (HPV-associated: HR: 0.71; 95% CI 0.50-0.99, p = 0.048; HPV-: HR: 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.95, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The effect of sex on OS in OC and OP SCC appears to vary based on tumor location and HPV status. While the source of this difference in prognostic association is unclear, it may be related to an emerging difference in the biology of HPV carcinogenesis in these locations.

Women's Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper

In this position paper, the American College of Physicians (ACP) examines the challenges women face in the U.S. health care system across their lifespans, including access to care; sex- and gender-specific health issues; variation in health outcomes compared with men; underrepresentation in research studies; and public policies that affect women, their families, and society. ACP puts forward several recommendations focused on policies that will improve the health outcomes of women and ensure a health care system that supports the needs of women and their families over the course of their lifespans.

The Confluence of Sex Hormones and Aging on Immunity

The immune systems of post-pubescent males and females differ significantly with profound consequences to health and disease. In many cases, sex-specific differences in the immune responses of young adults are also apparent in aged men and women. Moreover, as in young adults, aged women develop several late-adult onset autoimmune conditions more frequently than do men, while aged men continue to develop many cancers to a greater extent than aged women. However, sex differences in the immune systems of aged individuals have not been extensively investigated and data addressing the effectiveness of vaccinations and immunotherapies in aged men and women are scarce. In this review, we evaluate age- and sex hormone-related changes to innate and adaptive immunity, with consideration about how this impacts age- and sex-associated changes in the incidence and pathogenesis of autoimmunity and cancer as well as the efficacy of vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. We conclude that future preclinical and clinical studies should consider age and sex to better understand the ways in which these characteristics intersect with immune function and the resulting consequences for autoimmunity, cancer, and therapeutic interventions.

Relationships of sex hormone levels with leukocyte telomere length in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND

Sex hormones may play important roles in sex-specific biological aging. In the study, we specifically examined associations between circulating sex hormone concentrations and leukocyte telomere length (TL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1124 Black, 444 Hispanic, and 289 Asian/Pacific Islander women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Cohort. Estradiol and testosterone concentrations were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays; TL was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Women in the study were aged 50-79 years. Estradiol concentrations were not significantly associated with TL in this sample. The associations between total and free testosterone and TL differed by race/ethnicity (P_interaction  = 0.03 and 0.05 for total and free testosterone, respectively). Total and free testosterone concentrations were not associated with TL in Black and Hispanic women, whereas in Asian/Pacific Islander women their concentrations were inversely associated with TL (P_trend  = 0.003 for both). These associations appeared robust in multiple subgroup analyses and multivariable models adjusted for potential confounding factors. In Asian/Pacific Islander women, a doubling of serum free and total testosterone concentrations was associated with a 202-bp shorter TL (95% confidence interval [CI] 51-353 bp) and 203-bp shorter TL (95% CI 50-355 bp), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum estradiol concentrations were not associated with leukocyte TL in this large sample of postmenopausal women. Total and free testosterone concentrations were inversely associated with TL in Asian/Pacific Islander women, but not in Black and Hispanic women, although future studies to replicate our observations are warranted particularly to address potential ethnicity-specific relationships.