TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual dimorphism in medulloblastoma features
AU - Zannoni, Gian Franco
AU - Ciucci, A
AU - Marucci, G
AU - Travaglia, Daniele
AU - Stigliano, Egidio
AU - Foschini, Mp
AU - Scambia, Giovanni
AU - Gallo, Daniela
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - AIMS:\r\n\r\nMale sex is a risk factor for medulloblastoma (MB), and is also a negative predictor for clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in tumour biological features and hormone receptor profiles in a cohort of MB patients.\r\nMETHODS AND RESULTS:\r\n\r\nSixty-four MBs and five normal cerebella were included in the study. Cell proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) and microvessel density (CD31) were evaluated in tumours by immunohistochemistry. Tissues were analysed for oestrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ1, ERβ2, ERβ5 and androgen receptor (AR) expression. The results demonstrated sex-specific features in MBs, with tumours from females showing a higher apoptosis/proliferation ratio and less tumour vascularization than tumours from males. MBs were negative for ERα and AR, but expressed ERβ isoforms at similar levels between the sexes. Altogether, these findings indicate that signalling mechanisms that control cell turnover and angiogenesis operate more efficiently in females than in males. The lack of sex differences in the hormone receptor profiles suggests that circulating oestrogens could be the major determinants of the sexual dimorphism observed in MB features.\r\nCONCLUSIONS:\r\n\r\nHere, we provide molecular support for epidemiological data showing sex differences in MB incidence and outcome, completely defining the hormone receptor profile of the tumours.
AB - AIMS:\r\n\r\nMale sex is a risk factor for medulloblastoma (MB), and is also a negative predictor for clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in tumour biological features and hormone receptor profiles in a cohort of MB patients.\r\nMETHODS AND RESULTS:\r\n\r\nSixty-four MBs and five normal cerebella were included in the study. Cell proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) and microvessel density (CD31) were evaluated in tumours by immunohistochemistry. Tissues were analysed for oestrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ1, ERβ2, ERβ5 and androgen receptor (AR) expression. The results demonstrated sex-specific features in MBs, with tumours from females showing a higher apoptosis/proliferation ratio and less tumour vascularization than tumours from males. MBs were negative for ERα and AR, but expressed ERβ isoforms at similar levels between the sexes. Altogether, these findings indicate that signalling mechanisms that control cell turnover and angiogenesis operate more efficiently in females than in males. The lack of sex differences in the hormone receptor profiles suggests that circulating oestrogens could be the major determinants of the sexual dimorphism observed in MB features.\r\nCONCLUSIONS:\r\n\r\nHere, we provide molecular support for epidemiological data showing sex differences in MB incidence and outcome, completely defining the hormone receptor profile of the tumours.
KW - estrogen receptor beta
KW - medulloblastoma
KW - estrogen receptor beta
KW - medulloblastoma
UR - https://publicatt.unicatt.it/handle/10807/77195
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84957972673&origin=inward
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84957972673&origin=inward
U2 - 10.1111/his.12770
DO - 10.1111/his.12770
M3 - Article
SN - 0309-0167
SP - 541
EP - 548
JO - Histopathology
JF - Histopathology
IS - 68
ER -