title: Sexual dimorphism in medulloblastoma features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Male sex is a risk factor for medulloblastoma (MB), and is also a negative predictor for clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in tumour biological features and hormone receptor profiles in a cohort of MB patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four MBs and five normal cerebella were included in the study. Cell proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) and microvessel density (CD31) were evaluated in tumours by immunohistochemistry. Tissues were analysed for oestrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ1, ERβ2, ERβ5 and androgen receptor (AR) expression. The results demonstrated sex-specific features in MBs, with tumours from females showing a higher apoptosis/proliferation ratio and less tumour vascularization than tumours from males. MBs were negative for ERα and AR, but expressed ERβ isoforms at similar levels between the sexes. Altogether, these findings indicate that signalling mechanisms that control cell turnover and angiogenesis operate more efficiently in females than in males. The lack of sex differences in the hormone receptor profiles suggests that circulating oestrogens could be the major determinants of the sexual dimorphism observed in MB features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here, we provide molecular support for epidemiological data showing sex differences in MB incidence and outcome, completely defining the hormone receptor profile of the tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Female, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Section of Pathology 'M. Malpighi', Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Female, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Travaglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stigliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Section of Pathology 'M. Malpighi', Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
authors.affiliation: Department of Female, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.affiliation: Department of Female, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: ERβ; angiogenesis; apoptosis; brain cancer; clinical; oestrogen receptor; sex