Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights

Glioblastoma (GBM) displays significant gender disparities, being 1.6 times more prevalent in men, with a median survival time of 15.0 months for males compared to 25.5 months for females. These differences may be linked to gonadal steroid hormones, particularly testosterone, which interacts with th...

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Main Authors: Jessica Rossi, Marialuisa Zedde, Manuela Napoli, Rosario Pascarella, Anna Pisanello, Giuseppe Biagini, Franco Valzania
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/12/1523
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author Jessica Rossi
Marialuisa Zedde
Manuela Napoli
Rosario Pascarella
Anna Pisanello
Giuseppe Biagini
Franco Valzania
author_facet Jessica Rossi
Marialuisa Zedde
Manuela Napoli
Rosario Pascarella
Anna Pisanello
Giuseppe Biagini
Franco Valzania
author_sort Jessica Rossi
collection DOAJ
description Glioblastoma (GBM) displays significant gender disparities, being 1.6 times more prevalent in men, with a median survival time of 15.0 months for males compared to 25.5 months for females. These differences may be linked to gonadal steroid hormones, particularly testosterone, which interacts with the androgen receptor (AR) to promote tumor proliferation. Conversely, estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), and P4 metabolites exert more complex effects on GBM. Despite these insights, the identification of reliable hormonal tumor markers remains challenging, and studies investigating hormone therapies yield inconclusive results due to small sample sizes and heterogeneous tumor histology. Additionally, genetic, epigenetic, and immunological factors play critical roles in sex disparities, with female patients demonstrating increased O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation and greater genomic instability. These complexities highlight the need for personalized therapeutic strategies that integrate hormonal influences alongside other sex-specific biological characteristics in the management of GBM. In this review, we present the current understanding of the potential role of sex hormones in the natural history of GBM.
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spelling doaj-art-0a6abdd37f284484a896a504f2e4ba2a2024-12-27T14:35:47ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-11-011412152310.3390/life14121523Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological InsightsJessica Rossi0Marialuisa Zedde1Manuela Napoli2Rosario Pascarella3Anna Pisanello4Giuseppe Biagini5Franco Valzania6Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, ItalyNeurology Unit, Stroke Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyNeuroradiology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyNeuroradiology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyNeurology Unit, Stroke Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, ItalyNeurology Unit, Stroke Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyGlioblastoma (GBM) displays significant gender disparities, being 1.6 times more prevalent in men, with a median survival time of 15.0 months for males compared to 25.5 months for females. These differences may be linked to gonadal steroid hormones, particularly testosterone, which interacts with the androgen receptor (AR) to promote tumor proliferation. Conversely, estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), and P4 metabolites exert more complex effects on GBM. Despite these insights, the identification of reliable hormonal tumor markers remains challenging, and studies investigating hormone therapies yield inconclusive results due to small sample sizes and heterogeneous tumor histology. Additionally, genetic, epigenetic, and immunological factors play critical roles in sex disparities, with female patients demonstrating increased O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation and greater genomic instability. These complexities highlight the need for personalized therapeutic strategies that integrate hormonal influences alongside other sex-specific biological characteristics in the management of GBM. In this review, we present the current understanding of the potential role of sex hormones in the natural history of GBM.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/12/1523glioblastomaneurosteroidsandrogen receptortargeted therapyMRIDCE
spellingShingle Jessica Rossi
Marialuisa Zedde
Manuela Napoli
Rosario Pascarella
Anna Pisanello
Giuseppe Biagini
Franco Valzania
Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
Life
glioblastoma
neurosteroids
androgen receptor
targeted therapy
MRI
DCE
title Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
title_full Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
title_fullStr Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
title_short Impact of Sex Hormones on Glioblastoma: Sex-Related Differences and Neuroradiological Insights
title_sort impact of sex hormones on glioblastoma sex related differences and neuroradiological insights
topic glioblastoma
neurosteroids
androgen receptor
targeted therapy
MRI
DCE
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/12/1523
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