Sex Differences in Melanoma

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe 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 FindingsThe 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.SummaryOur 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 diffe...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research