The Effect of Sex on the Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-treated Mice Model of Colon Cancer

• Published in: Journal of cancer prevention 2016, 21(4), , pp.271-278
• Main Authors: Lee, Sun Min, Kim, Nayoung, Son, Hee Jin, Park, Ji Hyun, Nam, Ryoung Hee, Ham, Min Hee, Choi, Daeun, Sohn, Sung Hwa, Shin, Eun, Hwang, Young-Jae, Sung, Jihee, Lee, Dong Ho, Lee, Ha-Na
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; 예방의학
• ISSN: 2288-3649; 2288-3657
• DOI: 10.15430/JCP.2016.21.4.271

The colitis-associated cancer exhibits different characteristics according to sex in the initiation and progression of the tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the sex-associated difference in the azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colitis-associated cancer model. The AOM/DSS ICR mouse model was established to compare male with female, and then the severity of colitis-associated carcinogenesis was examined macroscopically and histologically regarding the number, size, and location of tumors. Subsequently, levels of colonic mucosal cytokine, interleukin (IL)-1β and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assessed. At the 16th week, the tumor multiplicity and the pro-inflammatory factors differed according to sex. The total tumor number was significantly higher in male ( = 0.020) and the number of large tumors (diameter > 2 mm) was higher in male ( = 0.026). In male, the tumors located more in distal colon ( = 0.001). MPO was significantly higher in AOM/DSS-treated male mice compared to the control group ( = 0.003), whereas the corresponding female group showed no significant change ( = 0.086). Colonic IL-1β level significantly increased in AOM/DSS groups compared to control groups both in male and female (male, = 0.014; female, = 0.005). It was higher in male group; however, there was no statistical significance ( = 0.226). In AOM/DSS murine model, colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis are induced more severely in male mice than female probably by way of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β and MPO. The sex-related differences at the animal model of colon cancer suggest the importance of approach to disease with sex-specific medicine in human.