Statistically, men with cancer have worse prognoses and outcomes compared to women. This discrepancy has been the subject of extensive study over the past few decades, but the oncology community is still working toward understanding the difference. However, a study published in Science Immunology in April 2022 may shed light on this phenomenon. The authors believe that their findings show that male sex hormones could be an effective target for cancer immunotherapy.
The Authors of the Landmark Male Sex Hormone Immunology Study
This study was conducted by researchers from the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). The researchers focused on the differences in intratumoral immune responses between non-reproductive male and female cancers.
The PIIO was founded in 2019 as a research initiative dedicated to understanding how the body’s immune system fights cancer and using this knowledge to prevent and treat various forms of the disease. This organization focuses on systems and translational immuno-oncology and works toward its goals through immune monitoring, discovery, and immuno-informatics.
Outcome Differences in Patients with Non-reproductive Cancers
Patients with cancers based in non-reproductive organs, such as the lungs or liver, show significant gender-based differences in responses to treatment, the progression of their cancers, and their chances of survival. Generally, men are much more likely to develop cancer, and diagnoses and outcomes are typically much worse for men than for women.
What Is Cancer Immunotherapy?
Sometimes referred to as immuno-oncology, immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the body’s own immune system to prevent, control, and destroy cancer. Immunotherapy techniques are designed to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, as well as to boost immune cells to help them destroy cancer more effectively. Moreover, immunotherapy can be used to give the body additional tools for improving the immune system response.
Immunotherapy is one of the most promising fields of modern cancer research. Researchers have developed a variety of immunotherapy methods that could be used to improve cancer outcomes, including adjuvants, adoptive cell transfer, cancer vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, targeted antibodies, and tumor-infecting viruses.
These treatments are often used alongside other types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other targeted therapies.
How T-Cells Fight Cancer Cells
The Science Immunology study was focused on the T-cell immune response to cancers, which has been a primary focus of recent immunotherapy research. A type of white blood cell integral to the function of the immune system, T-cells work to kill cancer cells in both direct and indirect ways:
– Killer T-cells (aka CD8+ cells) track down cancer cells and can also be scientifically stimulated to kill cancer.
– Helper T-cells (CD4+ cells) indirectly fight cancer by organizing and planning the immune system’s fight against malignant cells.
T-cells are an integral part of the cancer immunity cycle. When cancer cells die, they release substances called antigens, which the immune system recognizes. These antigens then rise to the surface of the immune cells called antigen-presenting cells (APCs).
Other immune cells are then able to see the relevant antigens. APCs can activate T-cells and show them how to recognize tumor cells. The T-cells then travel through the blood vessels to the tumor, where they recognize and kill cancer cells.
Relationship between Male Sex Hormones and Cancer Outcome Disparities
While studying the T-cell immune response to cancer tumors, researchers from the Science Immunology study made a major discovery. The researchers believe their findings show how male sex hormones play a role in gender-related disparities in the outcomes of cancer patients.
The findings of this study indicate that male sex hormones modulate killer T-cells. This process interferes with the functioning of killer T-cells. These findings shed new light on the processes behind disparities in cancer outcomes based on male sex hormones.
These findings are focused on a specific type of sex hormone called androgen, which is present at higher levels among males. Researchers found that androgen acted as a mediator in the promotion of dysfunction within killer T-cells. According to the authors, androgen-mediated promotion of killer T-cell dysfunction leads to faster tumor growth and worse outcomes for patients.
Findings’ Use to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy Treatments?
Immunotherapy is a promising subfield of cancer research that oncologists believe could lead to transformative developments in the treatment of various forms of cancer. The findings of this research suggest that male sex hormones, specifically androgen, could be targeted to develop new immunotherapies. However, molecular traits of these hormones need to be further studied to develop these new therapies. If successful, male sex hormone immunotherapies could lead to better outcomes for male cancer patients.