The female hormone, estrogen, can stimulate the development of head and neck cancers in young women. oral cancer – according to a work in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research.
The authors of this latest study hope that it will help in the development of new methods of preventing these cancers in women.
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck include cancer of the mouth, lip, larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity and salivary glands. Mostly men aged 50-74 suffer from it, especially those who smoke or abuse alcohol. In the last decade, however, there has been an increase in the incidence of head and neck cancer among young women with no known risk factors. The exact reasons for this phenomenon are unknown.
Scientists from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia conducted research on cells derived from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck at various stages of development – from very early changes, the so-called precancerous to advanced.
They found that in precancerous cells, estrogen stimulated the production of an enzyme called cytochrome P450 1B1 (encoded by the CYP1B1 gene), which is responsible for breaking down toxins and metabolizing estrogen to highly active forms. As a result, these cells gained a better ability to migrate and divide faster. Estrogen also inhibited the processes of suicidal death (so-called apoptosis) of precancerous cells.
The hormone has not been observed to have a similar effect on healthy cells or those that have already turned into cancer.
When researchers blocked the CYP1B1 gene, precancerous cells were less likely to migrate (57%) and divide (45%).
According to study co-author Dr. Margie Clapper, this discovery could help in the development of methods that would stop the development of precancerous lesions into malignant tumors of the head and neck.
The researchers are even hoping to identify some dietary component that would lower the production of cytochrome P450 1B1 and thus prevent precancerous cells from turning into cancerous cells.
As Jennifer R. Grandis from the University of Pittsburgh, who sits on the editorial board of Cancer Prevention Research, comments, Dr. Clapper’s research was conducted only on cells grown in a laboratory, therefore, it is necessary to verify them in studies on patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. .
In her previous experience, Dr. Clapper found that estrogen and the changes in its metabolism that occur when smoking can contribute to the development of lung cancer. (PAP)