The Deterioration of the Y Chromosome in Men and its Link to Cancer
As men age, some of their cells lose the very thing that makes them biological males – the Y chromosome. This loss hampers the body’s ability to fight cancer, according to new research from Cedars-Sinai Cancer².
The study found that loss of the Y chromosome helps cancer cells evade the body’s immune system. This common impact of the aging process in men results in aggressive bladder cancer, but somehow also renders the disease more vulnerable – and responsive – to a standard treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitors².
In humans, each cell normally has one pair of sex chromosomes; men have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes. In men, loss of the Y chromosome has been observed in several cancer types, including 10%-40% of bladder cancers. Loss of the Y chromosome also has been associated with heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease².
The Y chromosome contains the blueprints for certain genes. Based on the way these genes are expressed in normal cells in the bladder lining, investigators developed a scoring system to measure loss of the Y chromosome in cancers².
Based on their research, investigators are developing a test for loss of the Y chromosome in tumors with the goal of helping clinicians tailor immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment for male patients with bladder cancer².
In conclusion, loss of the Y chromosome in men is a common consequence of aging that affects white blood cells. It enables cancer cells to evade the immune system and leads to more aggressive bladder cancer. It is also associated with a higher risk of cancer, heart ailments, and neurological disease in men¹.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 7/16/2023
(1) Loss of Y Chromosome in Men Enables Cancer to Grow – Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/loss-of-y-chromosome-in-men-enables-cancer-to-grow/.
(2) Y chromosome loss in men with age linked with worse cancer outcomes …. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/y-chromosome-loss-in-men-with-age-linked-with-worse-cancer-outcomes/101221880.
(3) Loss of Y chromosome in men enables cancer to grow. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230621121032.htm.
(4) Loss of Y chromosome in men enables cancer to grow, finds new study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-loss-chromosome-men-enables-cancer.html.
