Scientists believe they have uncovered a key reason why a common blood cancer disproportionately and more severely affects men. The findings point to inherent biological differences between the sexes, rather than lifestyle factors, as the primary driver.
Sex-Specific Biological Drivers Identified
In a significant new study from the University of Alabama, researchers analysed data from 850 people newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. This cancer originates in the bone marrow, causing uncontrolled division of white blood cells, leading to symptoms like severe bone pain, bleeding, and exhaustion.
The analysis, which adjusted for factors including age, smoking, and body weight, revealed stark disparities. Men were found to be twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with stage 3 multiple myeloma, the most advanced and serious phase where the disease has spread.
Furthermore, male patients were 71% more likely to have impaired kidney function and 24% more likely to have organ damage at diagnosis compared to their female counterparts.
Beyond Lifestyle: A Question of Biology
The research team emphasised that these results highlight sex-specific biological mechanisms at play. While men in the study did have higher rates of smoking and alcohol use, the adjusted findings suggest these lifestyle choices are not the root cause of the disparity in disease severity.
Dr Krystle Ong, the pathologist who led the study, stated: 'This research suggests that sex-specific mechanisms promote multiple myeloma pathogenesis, which may account for the excess risk seen in men.'
The study, published in the journal Cancer, also noted key biological markers were more prevalent in men. They were 72% more likely to have high serum monoclonal protein and 60% more likely to have Kappa light chain disease, both indicators commonly associated with this type of cancer.
Implications for Diagnosis and Tailored Treatment
These insights are poised to change clinical approaches. The researchers believe their work will help ensure that men diagnosed or suspected of having multiple myeloma receive more targeted and effective care from the outset.
'These findings may be used to improve risk stratification, diagnosis, and tailored treatment for both men and women,' Dr Ong added.
Multiple myeloma causes approximately 36,110 new cases annually in the United States, with men accounting for around 55% (20,000) of these diagnoses. About 12,000 people die from the cancer each year, with a five-year survival rate of roughly 62%.
Among the notable individuals living with the condition is former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, now 85, who was diagnosed in his early 70s. He was treated with chemotherapy and entered remission in 2014, continuing to manage the disease with medication.
While treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplants can control multiple myeloma, it is generally considered treatable but not yet curable. This new understanding of sex-based differences offers a crucial pathway towards more personalised and effective management of the disease.
