Testosterone directly fuels the growth of aggressive brain tumors by making the cancer cells act like immortal stem cells.
Glioblastoma is a deadly brain cancer that is significantly more common and more aggressive in men. Testosterone provides the biological fuel for this disparity by increasing the stemness of the tumor cells. This makes the cancer much better at regenerating itself and resisting standard treatments like radiation. Lowering the influence of testosterone in the brain could potentially slow down the progression of the disease. This discovery explains why many male patients face worse outcomes and offers a new target for sex-specific cancer therapies.
Testosterone Increases Stemness-Associated Features in Human Glioblastoma Cells
SSRN · 6718403
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults, characterized by rapid progression and limited therapeutic response. The presence of glioma stem cells contributes to high recurrence and treatment resistance. Epidemiological data indicate a higher incidence of glioblastoma in men than in women, suggesting a potential role for sex hormones in disease progression. To evaluate the influence of testosterone on glioblastoma stemness-associated characteristics, male huma