Sex-Specific Mechanisms and Hormonal Regulation in Cancer Biology

Cancer biology increasingly recognizes the profound impact of sex-specific factors in shaping tumor development, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. While certain cancers, such as those of the breast, ovary, prostate, and testes, are inherently linked to biological sex, their distinct incidence and behaviors stem from complex interactions among hormonal environments, genetic and epigenetic regulation, and differences in immune and metabolic pathways. Recent research highlights the pivotal roles of estrogens, progesterone, and androgens—not just in normal physiology but also in orchestrating malignant transformation and tumor microenvironment dynamics. Despite significant advances, there remains a vital need to address gaps in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive sex-specific cancer phenotypes, particularly as new multi-omics and single-cell technologies unveil previously obscured heterogeneity.The primary aim of this Research Topic is to systematically unravel the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying sex-specific tumorigenesis, with a special focus on cancers that arise in a sex-dependent manner, such as breast, ovarian, prostate, and testicular cancer. By synthesizing insights from molecular, cellular, and clinical studies, we intend to delineate how sex hormones, chromosomal factors, and sex-driven regulatory programs interconnect to modulate tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic responsiveness. This topic further seeks to encourage the adoption of multi-omics and high-resolution single-cell platforms to uncover sex-specific cellular states, regulatory circuits, and tumor microenvironmental features, ultimately aiming to inform the development of precision, sex-informed diagnostic and treatment strategies in oncology.This Research Topic broadly covers experimental, computational, translational, and clinical studies that address the biology of sex-specific cancers and their underlying regulatory programs. It is primarily limited to malignancies with established sex-dependent etiologies, with an emphasis on mechanistic and integrative approaches. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Hormonal regulation of tumor initiation, progression, and treatment responseo Sex chromosome–associated genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in cancero Sex-specific immune and metabolic pathways impacting tumor biologyo Tumor microenvironmental distinctions in sex-specific cancerso Multi-omics, single-cell, and spatial approaches to dissect tumor heterogeneityo Integrative analyses linking molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes and patient stratification Topic editors: Chuang Yang, Yue Wang, Zhongping Xu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79075/sex-specific-mechanisms-and-hormonal-regulation-in-cancer-biology