Gender-specific side effects of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients

Abstract

Pancreatic carcinoma incidence showed a significant increase in men over the last few years and the prognosis remains poor. Patients are treated with different pharmacological plans with no evidence about gender-specific adverse effects. We aimed to investigate differences in the incidence of chemotherapy side effects in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, in order to provide insights toward a personalized assistance based in individual needs. The sample population is composed of 207 patients. Regression model highlighted the predictive role of female gender for alopecia, constipation, hand-foot syndrome and epigastric pain. Also considering single therapeutic schemes, gender differences have been reported. Moreover, evaluating the effect of age, a general reduced risk of toxicity has been reported in younger patients. In order to personalize chemotherapy and increase patients survival rate and life quality during the therapy, gender medicine and pharmacology studies are recommended.

Characteristics Associated With Survival in Surgically Nonresected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in the Military Health System

“…In the MHS, where patients have medical benefits regardless of sociodemographic characteristics, factors such as sex, race-ethnicity, marital status, and sponsor rank (proxy for SES) were not selected in association with survival, despite these factors being identified as possible prognostic indicators in other population-based studies. 12 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 49 , 50 A study by the California Cancer Registry noted that SES and access to care may help explain disparities in pancreatic cancer treatment and survival between Black and White racial groups. 49 A prior study of the DoD cancer registry data showed no racial differences in treatment or survival for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas.…”

“…Patients from racial-ethnic minority groups, including Black and Hispanic, may be less likely to receive pancreatic cancer treatment and have poorer survival than non-Hispanic White patients. 5,[12][13][14] Patient sex may play a role in chemotherapy side effects, response to treatment 15 and differential survival between men and women. 14 Age has also been shown to be related to receipt of pancreatic cancer treatment(s), with older patients being less likely to receive treatment 5,11,16 and survival, with younger patients experiencing better survival given the same treatment.…”

Caffeic Acid, an Active Ingredient in Coffee, Combines with DOX for Multitarget Combination Therapy of Lung Cancer

“…Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, insomnia, difficulties in defecation, and other symptoms are associated with the medication use. 27 Side effects cause secondary harm to patients. Therefore, the proportion of mental illness complications such as depression and anxiety is high in patients with cancer.…”

Assessing Patient Perspectives and the Health Equity of a Digital Cancer Symptom Remote Monitoring and Management System

“…Previous literature has shown that symptom experience and reporting differs by sex. 50,51 Females and younger patients are more likely to report distressing mental health symptoms, and many mental health interventions focus on women with breast cancer. [52][53][54][55] Although overall symptom improvement contributed modestly to men's significant gain, the mediation analysis demonstrated that the mental health benefit came from mechanisms other than decreased symptom burden.…”