Sex differences provide insight into glioblastoma treatment

Sex-specific treatment strategies may prolong survival and improve outcomes in male and female patients with glioblastoma, investigators suggest after a retrospective analysis.

In an analysis of data from 63 men and women with glioblastoma, the researchers found that a significant reduction in tumor growth velocity during standard chemotherapeutic treatment was seen only for females patients with glioblastoma (P = .02569). In addition, they reported that for female patients, a reduction in tumor growth velocity was linked with significantly increased survival versus higher velocity growth (median survival, 3090 days vs. 681 days; P = .00817).

In contrast, the men in the study showed no statistically significant correlation between survival and velocity, the investigators reported.

The researchers analyzed data from 63 patients with glioblastoma using clinical information from a research database at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. They also incorporated transcriptome data, which was connected via an electronic algorithm, and were able to detect certain molecular variations of glioblastoma that are integral components of survival for individuals with the disease. From these findings, Wei Yang, PhD, of Washington University, St. Louis, along with his colleagues, were able to validate links between the effects of chemotherapy and gene expression.

“We measured sex differences in the in vitro cytotoxic effects of four common chemotherapeutics in a panel of nine (five male and four female) patient-derived glioblastoma cell isolates,” the investigators said in Science Translational Medicine.

The authors acknowledged a key limitation of the study was the retrospective nature of the imaging analysis, which has the potential to introduce interoperator differences in tumor growth velocity measurements. With these limitations, Dr. Yang and his colleagues highlighted the importance of ensuring imaging data is verified by trained professionals.

“Together, these results suggest that greater precision in glioblastoma molecular subtyping can be achieved through sex-specific analyses and that improved outcomes for all patients might be accomplished by tailoring treatment to sex differences in molecular mechanisms,” they concluded.

The study was supported by grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, Children’s Discovery Institute of Washington University, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Ivy Foundation, Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic. Albert H. Kim and Kristin R. Swanson reported financial affiliations with Monterris and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. Other authors reported no conflicts of interest related to the work.

SOURCE: Yang W et al. Sci Transl Med. 2019 Jan 02. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5253.

Sex-specific treatment strategies may prolong survival and improve outcomes in male and female patients with glioblastoma, investigators suggest after a retrospective analysis.

In an analysis of data from 63 men and women with glioblastoma, the researchers found that a significant reduction in tumor growth velocity during standard chemotherapeutic treatment was seen only for females patients with glioblastoma (P = .02569). In addition, they reported that for female patients, a reduction in tumor growth velocity was linked with significantly increased survival versus higher velocity growth (median survival, 3090 days vs. 681 days; P = .00817).

In contrast, the men in the study showed no statistically significant correlation between survival and velocity, the investigators reported.

The researchers analyzed data from 63 patients with glioblastoma using clinical information from a research database at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. They also incorporated transcriptome data, which was connected via an electronic algorithm, and were able to detect certain molecular variations of glioblastoma that are integral components of survival for individuals with the disease. From these findings, Wei Yang, PhD, of Washington University, St. Louis, along with his colleagues, were able to validate links between the effects of chemotherapy and gene expression.

“We measured sex differences in the in vitro cytotoxic effects of four common chemotherapeutics in a panel of nine (five male and four female) patient-derived glioblastoma cell isolates,” the investigators said in Science Translational Medicine.

The authors acknowledged a key limitation of the study was the retrospective nature of the imaging analysis, which has the potential to introduce interoperator differences in tumor growth velocity measurements. With these limitations, Dr. Yang and his colleagues highlighted the importance of ensuring imaging data is verified by trained professionals.

“Together, these results suggest that greater precision in glioblastoma molecular subtyping can be achieved through sex-specific analyses and that improved outcomes for all patients might be accomplished by tailoring treatment to sex differences in molecular mechanisms,” they concluded.

The study was supported by grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, Children’s Discovery Institute of Washington University, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Ivy Foundation, Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic. Albert H. Kim and Kristin R. Swanson reported financial affiliations with Monterris and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. Other authors reported no conflicts of interest related to the work.

SOURCE: Yang W et al. Sci Transl Med. 2019 Jan 02. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5253.

Sex-specific treatment strategies may prolong survival and improve outcomes in male and female patients with glioblastoma, investigators suggest after a retrospective analysis.

In an analysis of data from 63 men and women with glioblastoma, the researchers found that a significant reduction in tumor growth velocity during standard chemotherapeutic treatment was seen only for females patients with glioblastoma (P = .02569). In addition, they reported that for female patients, a reduction in tumor growth velocity was linked with significantly increased survival versus higher velocity growth (median survival, 3090 days vs. 681 days; P = .00817).

In contrast, the men in the study showed no statistically significant correlation between survival and velocity, the investigators reported.

The researchers analyzed data from 63 patients with glioblastoma using clinical information from a research database at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. They also incorporated transcriptome data, which was connected via an electronic algorithm, and were able to detect certain molecular variations of glioblastoma that are integral components of survival for individuals with the disease. From these findings, Wei Yang, PhD, of Washington University, St. Louis, along with his colleagues, were able to validate links between the effects of chemotherapy and gene expression.

“We measured sex differences in the in vitro cytotoxic effects of four common chemotherapeutics in a panel of nine (five male and four female) patient-derived glioblastoma cell isolates,” the investigators said in Science Translational Medicine.

The authors acknowledged a key limitation of the study was the retrospective nature of the imaging analysis, which has the potential to introduce interoperator differences in tumor growth velocity measurements. With these limitations, Dr. Yang and his colleagues highlighted the importance of ensuring imaging data is verified by trained professionals.

“Together, these results suggest that greater precision in glioblastoma molecular subtyping can be achieved through sex-specific analyses and that improved outcomes for all patients might be accomplished by tailoring treatment to sex differences in molecular mechanisms,” they concluded.

The study was supported by grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, Children’s Discovery Institute of Washington University, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Ivy Foundation, Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic. Albert H. Kim and Kristin R. Swanson reported financial affiliations with Monterris and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. Other authors reported no conflicts of interest related to the work.

SOURCE: Yang W et al. Sci Transl Med. 2019 Jan 02. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5253.