机构:[1]School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.[2]Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.[3]Department of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.[4]Department of Nephrology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.[5]Department of Organ Transplantation, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Significant sex disparities have been observed in cancer incidence, treatment response to immunotherapy, and susceptibility to adverse
effects, affecting both reproductive and non-reproductive organ cancers. While lifestyle factors, carcinogenic exposure, and healthcare
access contribute to these disparities, they do not fully explain the observed male-female variation in anti-tumor immunity. Despite the
preferential expression of sex hormone receptors in immune cells, X chromosome also contains numerous genes involved in immune
function, and its incomplete inactivation may enhance anti-tumor immune responses in females. In contrast, loss or downregulation of
Y-linked genes in males has been associated with an increased cancer risk. Additionally, estrogen, progesterone and androgen signaling
pathways influence both innate and adaptive immune responses, contributing to sex-specific outcomes in cancer progression and therapy.
Sex-biased differences are also evident in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, cellular senescence, microbiota composition,
metabolism, and DNA damage response, all of which impact anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy treatment efficacy. In general, the
combination of sex chromosomes, sex hormones, and hormone receptors orchestrates the phenotype and function of various immune
cells involved in tumor immunity. However, sex disparity in each specific immune cell are context and environment dependent,
considering the preferential expression of hormone receptor in immune cell and sex hormone levels fluctuate significantly across different
life stages. This review aims to outline the molecular, cellular, and epigenetic changes in T cells, B cells, NK cells, DCs, neutrophils, and
macrophages driven by sex chromosomes and sex hormone signaling. These insights may inform the design of sex-specific targeted
therapies and leading to more individualized cancer treatment strategies.
基金:
National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81903135), Sichuan Science and technology Foundation Project, China (Grant No. 2023YFH0079),Youth Fund of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (NO. 2017QN09), Open Project of Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine (Grant No. LCMYZHYXKFKT202306)
语种:
外文
中科院(CAS)分区:
出版当年[2025]版:
大类|1 区医学
小类|1 区医学:研究与实验
最新[2025]版:
大类|1 区医学
小类|1 区医学:研究与实验
第一作者:
第一作者机构:[1]School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
共同第一作者:
通讯作者:
通讯机构:[2]Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Xuerui Tao,Yiling Wang,Binghua Xiang,et al.Sex bias in tumor immunity: insights from immune cells[J].Theranostics .2025,15(11):doi:10.7150/thno.106465.
APA:
Xuerui Tao,Yiling Wang,Binghua Xiang,Dongmei Hu,Wei Xiong...&Yue Zhao.(2025).Sex bias in tumor immunity: insights from immune cells.Theranostics ,15,(11)
MLA:
Xuerui Tao,et al."Sex bias in tumor immunity: insights from immune cells".Theranostics 15..11(2025)