Thyroid Carcinoma: Do We Need to Treat Men and Women Differently?
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Gender disparity
Genetics
Hormonal status
Journal
Visceral medicine
ISSN: 2297-4725
Titre abrégé: Visc Med
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101681546
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2020
Feb 2020
Historique:
received:
28
11
2019
accepted:
17
12
2019
entrez:
29
2
2020
pubmed:
29
2
2020
medline:
29
2
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
For differentiated thyroid carcinoma, gender-specific differences exist in regard to incidence, age at onset, tumor stage, and recurrence, but causative factors remain to be elucidated. Possible and likely contributors are genetic and hormonal differences. While some of these factors are known to be differently distributed between the sexes, like, for example, BRAF-mutation and estrogen levels, their role in thyroid cancer initiation or promotion awaits further investigation. Apart from generally accepted risk factors for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, an apparent gender disparity of thyroid cancer with a general female predominance, an age-dependent difference in growth acceleration during the reproductive years, and a peak at the time of entering menopause have been demonstrated. Hormonal status and hormonal receptor mediation seem to be most likely to contribute to the differences in thyroid cancer phenotypes of males and females. However, specific cause-and-effect pathways have not yet been determined. Female gender is overrepresented in the incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, as it is in the more favorable tumor stages. Besides the assumption of gender-specific differences in general health awareness and behavior, hormonal age-dependent and gender-specific factors appear to be contributory. In the advanced stage of thyroid cancer, males are overrepresented. Therefore, the real cause of gender differences in thyroid cancer is likely due to a mixed effect. Present knowledge does not favor different treatment modalities of thyroid carcinoma according to gender.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
For differentiated thyroid carcinoma, gender-specific differences exist in regard to incidence, age at onset, tumor stage, and recurrence, but causative factors remain to be elucidated. Possible and likely contributors are genetic and hormonal differences. While some of these factors are known to be differently distributed between the sexes, like, for example, BRAF-mutation and estrogen levels, their role in thyroid cancer initiation or promotion awaits further investigation.
SUMMARY
CONCLUSIONS
Apart from generally accepted risk factors for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, an apparent gender disparity of thyroid cancer with a general female predominance, an age-dependent difference in growth acceleration during the reproductive years, and a peak at the time of entering menopause have been demonstrated. Hormonal status and hormonal receptor mediation seem to be most likely to contribute to the differences in thyroid cancer phenotypes of males and females. However, specific cause-and-effect pathways have not yet been determined.
KEY MESSAGES
CONCLUSIONS
Female gender is overrepresented in the incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, as it is in the more favorable tumor stages. Besides the assumption of gender-specific differences in general health awareness and behavior, hormonal age-dependent and gender-specific factors appear to be contributory. In the advanced stage of thyroid cancer, males are overrepresented. Therefore, the real cause of gender differences in thyroid cancer is likely due to a mixed effect. Present knowledge does not favor different treatment modalities of thyroid carcinoma according to gender.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32110651
doi: 10.1159/000505496
pii: vis-0036-0010
pmc: PMC7036538
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Pagination
10-14Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 by S. Karger AG, Basel.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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