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Dirican CD, Nelson PS. Y Chromosome Loss and Implications for Oncology. Mol Cancer Res 2024; 22:603-612. [PMID: 38647375 PMCID: PMC11217729 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-24-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The Y chromosome has recognized functions in promoting male sex determination and regulating aspects of fertility. However, recent work has demonstrated important roles for the Y chromosome and Y-encoded genes in multiple domains of male health, including cancer. It is well established that males experience shorter lifespans than females, and this sex bias on overall mortality is accentuated in populations with longer life expectancy, in part related to elevated rates of cancer. The majority of human malignancies exhibit a sex bias with elevated frequencies in males. For many of these cancer types, the disparity has not been explained by environmental risk factors such as tobacco use. Notably, loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) detected in blood cells, termed mosaic LOY, is a common event that is related to advancing age and is associated with a shortened lifespan. Mosaic LOY is linked to increased incidence and mortality across a range of malignancies. Furthermore, tumors arising in different anatomic sites exhibit different frequencies of partial or complete Y chromosome loss. Causal oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles have been documented for several Y-encoded genes, such as lysine-specific demethylase 5 D, that exert pleiotropic effects on cellular functions by virtue of genome-wide regulation of gene activity. In this review, we discuss aspects of the Y chromosome relevant to oncology. The recent completion of the entire human Y-chromosome sequence provides a reference map of Y-encoded genes and regulatory elements to enable causal molecular studies that may explain and exploit the marked disparity in male cancer risk and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canan D. Dirican
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington.
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2
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Dakal TC, Dhabhai B, Pant A, Moar K, Chaudhary K, Yadav V, Ranga V, Sharma NK, Kumar A, Maurya PK, Maciaczyk J, Schmidt‐Wolf IGH, Sharma A. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes: functions and roles in cancers. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e582. [PMID: 38827026 PMCID: PMC11141506 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer, being the most formidable ailment, has had a profound impact on the human health. The disease is primarily associated with genetic mutations that impact oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Recently, growing evidence have shown that X-linked TSGs have specific role in cancer progression and metastasis as well. Interestingly, our genome harbors around substantial portion of genes that function as tumor suppressors, and the X chromosome alone harbors a considerable number of TSGs. The scenario becomes even more compelling as X-linked TSGs are adaptive to key epigenetic processes such as X chromosome inactivation. Therefore, delineating the new paradigm related to X-linked TSGs, for instance, their crosstalk with autosome and involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis becomes utmost importance. Considering this, herein, we present a comprehensive discussion of X-linked TSG dysregulation in various cancers as a consequence of genetic variations and epigenetic alterations. In addition, the dynamic role of X-linked TSGs in sex chromosome-autosome crosstalk in cancer genome remodeling is being explored thoroughly. Besides, the functional roles of ncRNAs, role of X-linked TSG in immunomodulation and in gender-based cancer disparities has also been highlighted. Overall, the focal idea of the present article is to recapitulate the findings on X-linked TSG regulation in the cancer landscape and to redefine their role toward improving cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tikam Chand Dakal
- Department of BiotechnologyGenome and Computational Biology LabMohanlal Sukhadia UniversityUdaipurRajasthanIndia
| | - Bhanupriya Dhabhai
- Department of BiotechnologyGenome and Computational Biology LabMohanlal Sukhadia UniversityUdaipurRajasthanIndia
| | - Anuja Pant
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Kareena Moar
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Kanika Chaudhary
- School of Life Sciences. Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew DelhiIndia
| | - Vikas Yadav
- School of Life Sciences. Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew DelhiIndia
| | - Vipin Ranga
- Dearptment of Agricultural BiotechnologyDBT‐NECAB, Assam Agricultural UniversityJorhatAssamIndia
| | | | - Abhishek Kumar
- Manipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnatakaIndia
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology ParkBangaloreIndia
| | - Pawan Kumar Maurya
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Jarek Maciaczyk
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Ingo G. H. Schmidt‐Wolf
- Department of Integrated OncologyCenter for Integrated Oncology (CIO)University Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Amit Sharma
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital of BonnBonnGermany
- Department of Integrated OncologyCenter for Integrated Oncology (CIO)University Hospital BonnBonnGermany
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3
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Shieh TM, Liu CJ, Hsia SM, Ningrum V, Liao CC, Lan WC, Shih YH. Lack of Salivary Long Non-Coding RNA XIST Expression Is Associated with Increased Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:4622. [PMID: 34640640 PMCID: PMC8509565 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that there is a disparity between males and females in south-east Asia with regard to oral cancer morbidity. A previous study found that oral cancer tissue showed loss of heterozygosity of the X-linked lncRNA XIST gene. We suggest that XIST may play an important role in oral cancer morbidity when associated with sex. Saliva contains proteins and RNAs that are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of diseases. This study investigated salivary XIST expression and the correlation to clinical-pathological data among oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Salivary XIST expression was only observed in females, and a high proportion of females with OSCC lack salivary lncRNA XIST expression (88%). The expression showed no correlation with alcohol consumption, betel quid chewing, or cigarette smoking habits. People lacking salivary lncRNA XIST expression had a significantly increased odds ratio of suffering from OSCC (OR = 19.556, p < 0.001), particularly females (OR = 33.733, p < 0.001). The ROC curve showed that salivary lncRNA XIST expression has acceptable discrimination accuracy to predict the risk of OSCC (AUC = 0.73, p < 0.01). Lack of salivary lncRNA XIST expression was associated with an increased risk of OSCC. We provided an insight into the role of salivary lncRNA XIST as a biomarker to predict the morbidity of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzong-Ming Shieh
- School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan;
| | - Chung-Ji Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 104217, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Min Hsia
- School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Valendriyani Ningrum
- School of Dentistry, Baiturrahmah University, by Pass km 15 Aie Pacah, Padang 25586, West Sumatra, Indonesia;
| | - Chiu-Chu Liao
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan; (C.-C.L.); (W.-C.L.)
| | - Wan-Chen Lan
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan; (C.-C.L.); (W.-C.L.)
| | - Yin-Hwa Shih
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan; (C.-C.L.); (W.-C.L.)
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4
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Kim SY, Song HK, Lee SK, Kim SG, Woo HG, Yang J, Noh HJ, Kim YS, Moon A. Sex-Biased Molecular Signature for Overall Survival of Liver Cancer Patients. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2020; 28:491-502. [PMID: 33077700 PMCID: PMC7585639 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2020.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex/gender disparity has been shown in the incidence and prognosis of many types of diseases, probably due to differences in genes, physiological conditions such as hormones, and lifestyle between the sexes. The mortality and survival rates of many cancers, especially liver cancer, differ between men and women. Due to the pronounced sex/gender disparity, considering sex/gender may be necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. By analyzing research articles through a PubMed literature search, the present review identified 12 genes which showed practical relevance to cancer and sex disparities. Among the 12 sex-specific genes, 7 genes (BAP1, CTNNB1, FOXA1, GSTO1, GSTP1, IL6, and SRPK1) showed sex-biased function in liver cancer. Here we summarized previous findings of cancer molecular signature including our own analysis, and showed that sex-biased molecular signature CTNNB1High, IL6High, RHOAHigh and GLIPR1Low may serve as a female-specific index for prediction and evaluation of OS in liver cancer patients. This review suggests a potential implication of sex-biased molecular signature in liver cancer, providing a useful information on diagnosis and prediction of disease progression based on gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Kyung Song
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk Kyeong Lee
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06649, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Geon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Goo Woo
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Yang
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin Noh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Sun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biochemistry, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Aree Moon
- Duksung Innovative Drug Center, College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
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5
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Correlation between mouse age and human age in anti-tumor research: Significance and method establishment. Life Sci 2019; 242:117242. [PMID: 31891723 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Age is closely related with the occurrence and development of tumors, and with treatment outcomes. To improve the accuracy and rigor of preclinical studies, and to enhance consistency between the preclinical research and the clinical reality, the age of experimental animals used in preclinical studies is important. The mouse genome is 99% identical to the human genome, and mice have similar patterns with respect to organs and systemic physiology. Thus, mice have been the most widely used animals in anti-tumor research. However, most mice used in such studies are 6 to 8 weeks old, ignoring the fact that different tumors may often occur in various periods, with a particular tendency to occur in later stages of life. The great difference in age limits the success rate of clinical transformation. Therefore, it is very important to choose mice of suitable age for preclinical studies and to correlate ages of human and mice. Only a few related studies have been reported and there is a lack of consistency in the findings. This review points out that age is one of the important factors in anti-tumor research, and establishes a new method for calculating the age correlation between humans and mice. The equations obtained from the method can help researchers conveniently determine suitable aged mouse for their research, which will improve the rigor of their experimental results. Furthermore, this method can be used beyond anti-tumor research, in studies on other diseases that use mouse as an animal model.
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Chen Z, Mai W, Li Z, Zhang H, Zheng Y, Hong S, Yang W, Xiao W, Chen Z, Wang S. The epidemiological trend of acute promyelocytic leukemia over past four decades: a population-based analysis. Leuk Lymphoma 2019; 60:3470-3481. [PMID: 31305195 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1639164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The treatment regimens for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) dramatically changed over time. However, its survival trend, based on a large sample size has not been reported. Patients diagnosed with APL were accessed from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Their incidence and survival trend were evaluated in overall and subgroup levels. The overall incidence of APL increased with an annual percentage change of 5.5% from 1992 to 2006 and remained stable thereafter. In addition, the 5-year relative survival rates of APL improved significantly, from 12.3 to 32.2% to 59.5 to 72.1% over past four decades (p < .0001), sharing similar trend with different subgroups. Importantly, survival disparities exist among races and different socioeconomic status groups, with superior survival in whites and patients in low-poverty regions. Increasing incidence urges for increased awareness of clinicians over diagnosis of APL. In addition, a wider insurance coverage may help balance survival gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziren Chen
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Mai
- Department of Nephrology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhengxiong Li
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haoyang Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- BGI-Shenzhen, BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shunrong Hong
- Department of Radiology, Puning People's Hospital, Puning, China
| | - Wencong Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiliang Xiao
- Department of Intervention, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhilin Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuncong Wang
- Theragnostic Laboratory, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical Sciences Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Genotypic and Phenotypic Variables Affect Meiotic Cell Cycle Progression, Tumor Ploidy, and Cancer-Associated Mortality in a brca2-Mutant Zebrafish Model. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:9218251. [PMID: 30930946 PMCID: PMC6413366 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9218251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
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.
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8
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Weng S, Stoner SA, Zhang DE. Sex chromosome loss and the pseudoautosomal region genes in hematological malignancies. Oncotarget 2018; 7:72356-72372. [PMID: 27655702 PMCID: PMC5342167 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytogenetic aberrations, such as chromosomal translocations, aneuploidy, and amplifications, are frequently detected in hematological malignancies. For many of the common autosomal aberrations, the mechanisms underlying their roles in cancer development have been well-characterized. On the contrary, although loss of a sex chromosome is observed in a broad range of hematological malignancies, how it cooperates in disease development is less understood. Nevertheless, it has been postulated that tumor suppressor genes reside on the sex chromosomes. Although the X and Y sex chromosomes are highly divergent, the pseudoautosomal regions are homologous between both chromosomes. Here, we review what is currently known about the pseudoautosomal region genes in the hematological system. Additionally, we discuss implications for haploinsufficiency of critical pseudoautosomal region sex chromosome genes, driven by sex chromosome loss, in promoting hematological malignancies. Because mechanistic studies on disease development rely heavily on murine models, we also discuss the challenges and caveats of existing models, and propose alternatives for examining the involvement of pseudoautosomal region genes and loss of a sex chromosome in vivo. With the widespread detection of loss of a sex chromosome in different hematological malignances, the elucidation of the role of pseudoautosomal region genes in the development and progression of these diseases would be invaluable to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Weng
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samuel A Stoner
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dong-Er Zhang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Sex disparities in cancer incidence in Jiashan County, China, 1995-2014. Cancer Epidemiol 2017; 50:46-52. [PMID: 28803070 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the sex-specific incidence rates and the male-to-female incidence-rate ratios (IRRs) of different cancer types, and to explore the corresponding sex disparities in an area of Eastern China. METHODS We used data from the Cancer Registry in Jiashan County, and calculated the sex-specific age-standardized (2010 China standard population) incidence rates and the male-to-female IRRs for different cancer types during the period 1995-2014. RESULTS The age-standardized incidence rates of all cancers for the whole period 1995-2014 were 151.48 per 100,000 person-years for males and 83.75 per 100,000 person-years for females, and the corresponding male-to-female IRR was 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.77-1.85). Specifically, males presented higher incidences in most types of cancer with the exceptions of cancers of connective and other soft tissues, gallbladder (including extrahepatic bile ducts), and thyroid gland. In addition, the age-specific incidences of the ten most common cancers in males were higher than those in females in most age groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal a male predominance in incidence for a majority of cancers in Jiashan County, Eastern China. Possible explanations for these sex disparities in cancer incidence may include lifestyle factors, particularly smoking.
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10
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Dore MP, Davoli A, Longo N, Marras G, Pes GM. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and risk of colorectal cancer in Northern Sardinia: A retrospective observational study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e5254. [PMID: 27858887 PMCID: PMC5591135 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000005254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been associated with a lower cancer risk, possibly via a reduction of mutagenic oxygen-free radicals and by reducing nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide-phosphate for replicating cells. In Sardinia, the enzyme defect is frequent as a consequence of selection by malaria in the past. This study investigated the relationship between G6PD deficiency and colorectal cancer (CRC).A retrospective case-control study of 3901 patients from Sardinia, who underwent a colonoscopy between 2006 and 2016, was performed. G6PD phenotype was assessed for each subject. The proportion of pre and malignant colorectal lesions was compared in cases (G6PD-deficient) and controls (G6PD-normal). Data concerning age, sex, family history of CRC, smoking habits, body height, and weight, and also associated diseases were collected.The CRC risk reduction was 43.2% among G6PD-deficient compared with G6PD-normal subjects (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.37-0.87, P = 0.010). Age, sex, family history of CRC, and also comorbidities such as type 1 diabetes and ischemic heart disease, were significantly associated with CRC risk. The protective effect of G6PD deficiency remained significant after adjusting for all covariates by logistic regression analysis, and was consistently lower across all age groups.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme deficiency is associated with a reduced risk of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P. Dore
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Sassari, Italy
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Correspondence: Maria Pina Dore, Clinica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Viale San Pietro 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy (e-mail: )
| | - Agnese Davoli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Nunzio Longo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Marras
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanni M. Pes
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Sassari, Italy
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Abstract
The incidence of many types of cancer arising in organs with non-reproductive functions is significantly higher in male populations than in female populations, with associated differences in survival. Occupational and/or behavioural factors are well-known underlying determinants. However, cellular and molecular differences between the two sexes are also likely to be important. In this Opinion article, we focus on the complex interplay that sex hormones and sex chromosomes can have in intrinsic control of cancer-initiating cell populations, the tumour microenvironment and systemic determinants of cancer development, such as the immune system and metabolism. A better appreciation of these differences between the two sexes could be of substantial value for cancer prevention as well as treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Clocchiatti
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
| | - Elisa Cora
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Zhang
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA; and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
| | - G Paolo Dotto
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA; and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
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12
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Gender-associated genomic differences in colorectal cancer: clinical insight from feminization of male cancer cells. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:17344-65. [PMID: 25268611 PMCID: PMC4227166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms151017344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gender-related differences in colorectal cancer (CRC) are not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that CRC arising in females are significantly associated with CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP-high). Using array comparative genomic hybridization, we analyzed a cohort of 116 CRCs (57 males, 59 females) for chromosomal copy number aberrations (CNA) and found that CRC in females had significantly higher numbers of gains involving chromosome arms 1q21.2–q21.3, 4q13.2, 6p21.1 and 16p11.2 and copy number losses of chromosome arm 11q25 compared to males. Interestingly, a subset of male CRCs (46%) exhibited a “feminization” phenomenon in the form of gains of X chromosomes (or an arm of X) and/or losses of the Y chromosome. Feminization of cancer cells was significantly associated with microsatellite-stable CRCs (p-value 0.003) and wild-type BRAF gene status (p-value 0.009). No significant association with other clinicopathological parameters was identified including disease-free survival. In summary, our data show that some CNAs in CRC may be gender specific and that male cancers characterized by feminization may constitute a specific subset of CRCs that warrants further investigation.
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13
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Najari BB, Rink M, Li PS, Karakiewicz PI, Scherr DS, Shabsigh R, Meryn S, Schlegel PN, Shariat SF. Sex disparities in cancer mortality: the risks of being a man in the United States. J Urol 2012. [PMID: 23206422 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.11.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In the United States more men are diagnosed with cancer than women. We quantified the differential mortality rates of nonsex specific cancers between the sexes and compared cancer stage distributions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this descriptive epidemiological study we obtained the incidence of new cancer cases, cancer deaths and stage distributions for the last 10 years in the United States from SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) program results. Sex specific cancers were excluded from study. We compared male-to-female relative mortality rate for all cancers as well as the average male-to-female relative mortality rate weighted by cancer incidence in the last 10 years. Sex specific stage distributions were also compared with the Kendall τ-c test. RESULTS The male-to-female relative mortality rate for any cancer was 1.060 (95% CI 1.055-1.065). The average male-to-female relative mortality rate for the same cancer was 1.126 (95% CI 1.086-1.168). The discrepancy in incidence and mortality rates was stable for the last 10 years. Of the top 10 most common cancers men had an unfavorable stage distribution in all except colorectal, bladder and brain cancers. CONCLUSIONS Men are more likely to have nonsex specific cancer than women and more likely to die of the cancer even after controlling for the incidence. This discrepancy has been stable for the last decade. For 7 of the 10 most commonly occurring nonsex specific cancers, representing 78% of all incident cancers, men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobby B Najari
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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Stahl PR, Kilgué A, Tennstedt P, Minner S, Krohn A, Simon R, Krause GV, Izbicki J, Graefen M, Sauter G, Schlomm T, Wilczak W. Y chromosome losses are exceedingly rare in prostate cancer and unrelated to patient age. Prostate 2012; 72:898-903. [PMID: 21956681 DOI: 10.1002/pros.21492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss of the Y chromosome is a frequently reported chromosomal abnormality in many tumor types. This study was undertaken to investigate the frequency of Y chromosome losses and this chromosomal abnormality might play a potential role in prostate cancer. METHODS A preexisting prostate cancer tissue microarray (TMA) containing samples of 3,261 patients treated by radical prostatectomy with clinical follow-up data was used in this study. TMA sections were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a dual labeling probe for the centromeres of the X and Y chromosome. RESULTS Unequivocal losses of the Y chromosome were seen in only 12 of 2,053 analyzable cases. No significant associations were found between Y loss and patient age, pT stage, and the risk of PSA recurrence. Interestingly, in our study the presence of Y losses was significantly associated with high Gleason grade (P = 0.0034). CONCLUSIONS Loss of the Y chromosome is a rare event in prostate cancer. Y losses occur in much higher rates in most other cancer types. For this reason, we suggest that the expression of at least one Y chromosome gene is essential for prostate epithelial cells and it is possible that such a gene could represent a suitable target for future therapy of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip R Stahl
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52,20246 Hamburg, Germany.
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15
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Abstract
Cancer cells silence autosomal tumor suppressor genes by Knudson's two-hit mechanism in which loss-of-function mutations and then loss of heterozygosity occur at the tumor suppressor gene loci. However, the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes has challenged the traditional theory of 'two-hit inactivation' in tumor suppressor genes, introducing the novel concept that a single genetic hit can cause loss of tumor suppressor function. The mechanism through which these genes are silenced in human cancer is unclear, but elucidating the details will greatly enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of human cancer. Here, we review the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes and discuss the potential mechanisms of their inactivation. In addition, we also discuss how the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes can potentially lead to new approaches in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhua Liu
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mandy Kain
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lizhong Wang
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
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16
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Veiga LCS, Bérgamo NA, Reis PP, Kowalski LP, Rogatto SR. Loss of Y-chromosome does not correlate with age at onset of head and neck carcinoma: a case-control study. Braz J Med Biol Res 2012; 45:172-8. [PMID: 22249426 PMCID: PMC3854262 DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of Y-chromosome has been correlated with older age in males. Furthermore, current evidence indicates that Y-chromosome loss also occurs in several human tumors, including head and neck carcinomas. However, the association between Y nullisomy and the occurrence of neoplasias in elderly men has not been well established. In the present study, the association between Y-chromosome loss and head and neck carcinomas was evaluated by comparison to cells from peripheral blood lymphocytes and normal mucosa of cancer-free individuals matched for age using dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization. Twenty-one patients ranging in age from 28 to 68 years were divided into five-year groups for comparison with 16 cancer-free individuals matched for age. The medical records of all patients were examined to obtain clinical and histopathological data. None of the patients had undergone radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery. In all groups, the frequency of Y-chromosome loss was higher among patients than among normal reference subjects (P < 0.0001) and was not age-dependent. These data suggest that Y-chromosome loss is a tumor-specific alteration not associated with advanced age in head and neck carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Silva Veiga
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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17
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Costi R, Azzoni C, Marchesi F, Bottarelli L, Violi V, Bordi C. Repeated anastomotic recurrence of colorectal tumors: Genetic analysis of two cases. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17:3752-8. [PMID: 21990958 PMCID: PMC3181462 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i32.3752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Revised: 10/26/2010] [Accepted: 11/02/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate genetics of two cases of colorectal tumor local recurrence and throw some light on the etiopathogenesis of anastomotic recurrence.
METHODS: Two cases are presented: a 65-year-old female receiving two colonic resections for primary anastomotic recurrences within 21 mo, and a 57-year-old female undergoing two local excisions of recurrent anastomotic adenomas within 26 mo. A loss of heterozygosity (LOH) study of 25 microsatellite markers and a mutational analysis of genes BRAF, K-RAS and APC were performed in samples of neoplastic and normal colonic mucosa collected over the years.
RESULTS: A diffuse genetic instability was present in all samples, including neoplastic and normal colonic mucosa. Two different patterns of genetic alterations (LOH at 5q21 and 18p11.23 in the first case, and LOH at 1p34 and 3p14 in the second) were found to be associated with carcinogenesis over the years. A role for the genes MYC-L (mapping at 1p34) and FIHT (mapping at 3p14.2) is suggested, whereas a role for APC (mapping at 5q21) is not shown.
CONCLUSION: The study challenges the most credited intraluminal implantation and metachronous carcinogenesis theories, and suggests a persistent, patient-specific alteration as the trigger of colorectal cancer anastomotic recurrence.
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18
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Cook MB, McGlynn KA, Devesa SS, Freedman ND, Anderson WF. Sex disparities in cancer mortality and survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011; 20:1629-37. [PMID: 21750167 PMCID: PMC3153584 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-11-0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 324] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has noted higher cancer mortality rates and lower survival among males than females. However, systematic comparisons of these two metrics by sex have been limited. METHODS We extracted U.S. vital rates and survival data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database for 36 cancers by sex and age for the period 1977 to 2006. We compared sex-specific mortality rates and examined male-to-female mortality rate ratios (MRR). We also extracted case data which included age and date of diagnosis, sex, primary cancer site, tumor stage and grade, survival time, vital status, and cause of death. Relative cancer-specific HRs for death in the 5-year period following diagnosis were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for covariates. RESULTS For the vast majority of cancers, age-adjusted mortality rates were higher among males than females with the highest male-to-female MRR for lip (5.51), larynx (5.37), hypopharynx (4.47), esophagus (4.08), and urinary bladder (3.36). Cancer-specific survival was, for most cancers, worse for males than females, but such disparities were drastically less than corresponding MRRs [e.g., lip (HR = 0.93), larynx (HR = 1.09), hypopharynx (HR = 0.98), esophagus (HR = 1.05), and urinary bladder (HR = 0.83)]. CONCLUSIONS Male-to-female MRRs differed markedly while cancer survival disparities were much less pronounced. This suggests that sex-related cancer disparities are more strongly related to etiology than prognosis. IMPACT Future analytic studies should attempt to understand causes of observed sex disparities in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Cook
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.
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19
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Minner S, Kilgué A, Stahl P, Weikert S, Rink M, Dahlem R, Fisch M, Höppner W, Wagner W, Bokemeyer C, Terracciano L, Simon R, Sauter G, Wilczak W. Y chromosome loss is a frequent early event in urothelial bladder cancer. Pathology 2010; 42:356-9. [PMID: 20438408 DOI: 10.3109/00313021003767298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Y chromosome losses have been described in 10-40% of bladder cancers and were suggested to be age-related. The clinical significance of chromosome Y losses is largely unknown, since only small sets of male bladder cancer patients have been evaluated in previous studies. The aim of this study was to further clarify the potential relevance of Y chromosome losses in bladder cancer with respect to clinical outcome and patient age. METHODS A pre-existing bladder cancer tissue microarray (TMA) with clinical follow-up data including 516 urothelial bladder cancers from male patients was utilised in this study. Y chromosome losses were analysed by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) using a centromere Y probe and a centromere X probe. p53 immunostaining data were available for all patients from a previous study. RESULTS Y chromosome losses were seen in 23% of 477 interpretable cancers from male patients. There was no significant difference in patient age in tumours with (67.4 +/- 4.3 years) or without (67.3 +/- 2.3 years) Y chromosome losses (p = 0.9068). Y chromosome losses were equally frequent in tumours of all grades (p = 0.7831) and stages (p = 0.6140). There was also no association with p53 immunostaining (p = 0.4092). Y chromosome losses were not associated with survival in 224 invasive urothelial cancers (pT2-4; p = 0.2324), an increased risk for recurrences in 197 pTa tumours (p = 0.7649) or increased progression risk in 76 pT1 tumours (p = 0.4582). CONCLUSION The data of this study show that Y chromosome losses are frequent in urothelial bladder cancer of all grades and stages, which could imply that loss of the Y chromosome is an early event in bladder cancer development. p53 mediated genomic instability is evidently not required for the development of Y chromosome losses. Since there was no correlation between Y chromosome losses and clinical outcome, detection of Y losses has no clinical relevance in urothelial bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Minner
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
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20
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Lack of a y-chromosomal complement in the majority of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2010; 2010:364508. [PMID: 20182630 PMCID: PMC2825661 DOI: 10.1155/2010/364508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2009] [Accepted: 01/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs) are a rare group of neoplastic diseases composed of choriocarcinomas, placental site trophoblastic tumors (PSTTs) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumors (ETTs). Since these tumors are derivatives of fetal trophoblastic tissue, approximately 50% of GTN cases are expected to originate from a male conceptus and carry a Y-chromosomal complement according to a balanced sex ratio. To investigate this hypothesis, we carried out a comprehensive analysis by genotyping a relatively large sample size of 51 GTN cases using three independent sex chromosome genetic markers; Amelogenin, Protein Kinase and Zinc Finger have X and Y homologues that are distinguishable by their PCR product size. We found that all cases contained the X-chromosomal complement while only five (10%) of 51 tumors harbored the Y-chromosomal complement. Specifically, Y-chromosomal signals were detected in one (5%) of 19 choriocarcinomas, one (7%) of 15 PSTTs and three (18%) of 17 ETTs. The histopathological features of those with a Y-chromosome were similar to those without. Our results demonstrate the presence of a Y-chromosomal complement in GTNs, albeit a low 10% of cases. This shortfall of Y-chromosomal complements in GTNs may reinforce the notion that the majority of GTNs are derived from previous molar gestations.
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Cook MB, Dawsey SM, Freedman ND, Inskip PD, Wichner SM, Quraishi SM, Devesa SS, McGlynn KA. Sex disparities in cancer incidence by period and age. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009; 18:1174-82. [PMID: 19293308 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-08-1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer epidemiology articles often point out that cancer rates tend to be higher among males than females yet rarely is this theme the subject of investigation. METHODS We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program data to compute age-adjusted (2000 U.S. standard population) sex-specific incidence rates and male-to-female incidence rate ratios (IRR) for specific cancer sites and histologies for the period 1975 to 2004. RESULTS The 10 cancers with the largest male-to-female IRR were Kaposi sarcoma (28.73), lip (7.16), larynx (5.17), mesothelioma (4.88), hypopharynx (4.13), urinary bladder (3.92), esophagus (3.49), tonsil (3.07), oropharynx (3.06), and other urinary organs (2.92). Only 5 cancers had a higher incidence in females compared with males: breast (0.01), peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery (0.18), thyroid (0.39), gallbladder (0.57), and anus, anal canal, and anorectum (0.81). Between 1975 and 2004, the largest consistent increases in male-to-female IRR were for cancers of the tonsil, oropharynx, skin excluding basal and squamous, and esophagus, whereas the largest consistent decreases in IRR were for cancers of the lip and lung and bronchus. Male-to-female IRRs varied considerably by age, the largest increases of which were for ages 40 to 59 years for tonsil cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The largest decreases in male-to-female IRR by age, meanwhile, were for ages 30 to 49 years for thyroid cancer, ages >70 years for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and ages >30 years for lung and bronchus cancer. CONCLUSION These observations emphasize the importance of sex in cancer etiopathogenesis and may suggest novel avenues of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Cook
- National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20852-7234, USA.
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22
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Bianchi NO. Y chromosome structural and functional changes in human malignant diseases. Mutat Res 2009; 682:21-7. [PMID: 19699459 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2009.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2008] [Revised: 12/01/2008] [Accepted: 02/04/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The main Y chromosome abnormalities found in testicular cancer and other malignant diseases are microdeletions, entire chromosome loss and transcription deregulation of several genes mapping in the non-recombinant part of the Y chromosome. Yet, the role of these changes in the origin or evolution of malignancies is uncertain. The Y chromosome has experienced a long and intricate evolutionary history of deleterious, compensatory, and advantageous mutations. It is proposed that the compensatory mechanisms preventing Y decay in cancer cells are no longer working, and that deletions and gene down-expression reflect a very fast process of Y attrition. From this perspective, Y chromosome aberrations, mutations and unbalanced gene expression very likely play no role in the etiology of cell transformation, although in some forms of cancer, Y abnormalities may influence tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néstor O Bianchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Population Genetics, IMBICE, CC 403, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
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23
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Abstract
Large-cell neuroendocrine and small-cell lung carcinomas are highly aggressive neuroendocrine tumors that can be associated in a variant of 'small-cell lung carcinoma combined with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma'. Little is known about this rare tumor type with biphenotypic neuroendocrine differentiation. The aim of the present study was to genetically characterize each component of a series of combined small-cell/large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, to gain information on their histogenesis and to compare the alterations observed with those found in their respective pure forms. To this end, 22 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung neuroendocrine tumors obtained from surgical resections were investigated: six combined small-cell/large-cell carcinomas, eight pure large-cell carcinomas and eight pure small-cell carcinomas. For the combined neuroendocrine neoplasms, DNA was extracted separately from each of the two cytologically different populations. Allelic imbalance was investigated by PCR amplification of 30 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers located at 11 different chromosomal regions. A common background of genetic alterations, similar in both components of the combined neoplasms, was demonstrated at 17p13.1, 3p14.2-3p21.2, 4q12-4q24, 5q21 and 9p21. In fact, the two components appeared to be more similar to each other than to their respective pure forms. In addition, allelic imbalances preferentially involving one of the two components were found. These alterations often appeared to be specific for this histological variant, as compared with those observed in pure forms or in the literature. In conclusion, this is the first report in which a molecular characterization of the variant of small-cell lung carcinoma combined with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma was performed. The finding of common alterations in the two phenotypically different neuroendocrine cell components suggests a close genetic relationship and supports the hypothesis of a monoclonal origin from a common ancestor. The genetic differences observed provide the basis for the divergent differentiation and parallel the morphological differences in the two components of these combined neuroendocrine neoplasms.
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