Wednesday 25/March/2026 – 09:26 PM
An international team led by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in the United States has discovered the main driver of the growth of a deadly type of childhood cancer known as posterior fossa ependymoma type A. The researchers explained in a study published in the journal Nature that known androgens With hormones Menstruation enhances the growth of this tumor over any other, and blocking these secretory signals opens up hope for new therapeutic capabilities for this intractable disease. A new medical discovery explains the role of male hormones in the growth of childhood cancer
The mystery of tumor growth and gender differences
According to Medical Previous studies showed that most patients are male and their survival rate is lower than females.
The oncologist confirmed that gender differences play an important role in the development of the disease, and therefore experts decided to study these differences to explain why young boys are weaker than girls.
Scientists worked on animal models and cells grown in the laboratory to investigate whether susceptibility to infection depends on sex chromosomes or hormones. Specialists found that the cells of the aforementioned tumor are less developed in male patients compared to females due to male secretions that keep them in a state vulnerable to continuous growth.
Researcher Claudia Kleinman, professor of human genetics, explained to Medical Xpress that the research provides a biological basis for understanding the long-recognized sex differences in this medical condition.
According to the same source, researcher Kulandaimanuvel Antony Michealraj, assistant professor of neurosurgery, indicated that the discovery of this previously unknown link between early exposure to secretions and the formation of tumors makes anti-tumor treatments a promising option.
Researcher Michael D. Taylor, professor of neurosurgery, confirmed that these results have potential clinical implications and indicate that blocking the aforementioned hormonal developmental activity may represent a rational direction for targeted treatment strategies in the future to reduce the risks of childhood cancer.
