title: Immunomodulatory effects of sex hormones: requirements for pregnancy and relevance in melanoma.
abstract: Similarities between the pathologic progression of cancer and the physiologic process of placentation (eg, proliferation, invasion, and local/systemic tolerance) have been recognized for many years. Sex hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin, estrogens, progesterone, and others contribute to induction of immunologic tolerance at the beginning of gestation. Sex hormones have been shown to play contributory roles in the growth of cancers such as breast cancer, prostrate cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer, but their involvement as putative mediators of the immunologic escape of cancer is still being elucidated. Herein, we compare the emerging mechanism by which sex hormones modulate systemic immunity in pregnancy and their potentially similar role in cancer. To do this, we conducted a PubMed search using combinations of the following keywords: "immune regulation," "sex hormones," "pregnancy," "melanoma," and "cancer." We did not limit our search to specific publication dates. Mimicking the maternal immune response to pregnancy, especially in late gestation, might aid in design of better therapies to reconstitute endogenous antitumor immunity and improve survival.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Ann L
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Enninga
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.
authors.forename: Shernan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Holtan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Creedon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Roxana S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dronca
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Wendy K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Nevala
authors.affiliation: Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ognjanovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: Markovic.svetomir@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Svetomir N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Markovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D055633:Immune System Phenomena / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011374:Progesterone