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Sexual dimorphism in solid and hematological malignancies

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Abstract

Cancer represents a leading cause of death with continuously increasing incidence worldwide. Many solid cancer types in non-reproductive organs are significantly more frequent and deadly in males compared to females. This sex-biased difference is also present in hematologic malignancies. In this review, we present an overview about sex differences in cancer with a focus on leukemia. We discuss mechanisms potentially underlying the observed sex-biased imbalance in cancer incidence and outcome including sex hormones, sex chromosomes, and immune responses. Besides affecting the pathobiology of cancers, sex differences can also influence drug responses, most notably those to immune checkpoint blockers. Therefore, sex should become a relevant factor in clinical trial design in order to avoid over- or under-treatment of one sex.

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Acknowledgements

S.L. is supported by a Heisenberg professorship and by the Schwerpunktprogramm mbone from the DFG (LO1863-4/1, SL1863/5-1), by the Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg (consortium sexual dimorphism in the immune system) and by the Margarethe Clemens Stiftung. I.B.B. is supported by the Schwerpunktprogramm mbone from the DFG (BE6658/1-1) and by the Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg (consortium sexual dimorphism in the immune system). M.E.V.D. is supported by the Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg (consortium sexual dimorphism in the immune system).

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  1. Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section Pneumology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum, Hubertus Wald Comprehensive Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Isabel Ben-Batalla, María Elena Vargas-Delgado, Lara Meier & Sonja Loges

  2. Department of Tumor Biology, Center of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Isabel Ben-Batalla, María Elena Vargas-Delgado, Lara Meier & Sonja Loges

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  1. Isabel Ben-Batalla
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  2. María Elena Vargas-Delgado
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  3. Lara Meier
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  4. Sonja Loges
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Correspondence to Sonja Loges.

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This article is a contribution to the special issue on Sex differences in immunity – Guest Editors: Hanna Lotter and Marcus Altfeld

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Ben-Batalla, I., Vargas-Delgado, M.E., Meier, L. et al. Sexual dimorphism in solid and hematological malignancies. Semin Immunopathol 41, 251–263 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-018-0724-7

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