Androgen receptor signaling found to upregulate gene driving melanoma severity in men
Source: News Medical Life Science, February 2024
In a recent study published by Nature Communications, researchers uncovered a previously unknown method by which androgen-activated androgen receptors (ARs) increase fucosyltransferase 4 (FUT4) expression, which promotes melanoma invasiveness by interfering with adherens junctions (AJs).
Background
Melanoma incidence and death rates are higher in males than in females, and sex hormones play a crucial role in the disease’s biology and progression. Studies have demonstrated that androgen and its receptor have tumorigenic functions in melanoma, although the underlying processes are poorly understood.
Men with advanced melanoma typically have lower clinical outcomes. Sex hormones, such as G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) signaling, inhibit tumor development and boost anti-programmed death cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) immune checkpoint blockade effectiveness in a female mouse model.