A deficiency of NCOA5 gene triggers a spontaneous reaction that ignites the production of cells, leading to hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer. This type of cancer is four time more prevalent in men than women. Along with this, researchers also found that men become glucose intolerant, a pre-diabetic condition that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
"Essentially, what this provides is evidence for a genetic susceptibility in males to this particular type of liver cancer and diabetes," said Hua Xiao, lead researcher of the project and associate professor of physiology in MSU's College of Human Medicine. "Ninety-four percent of the male mice we looked at developed the liver cancer, while 100 percent of these mice developed glucose intolerance."
Researchers who conducted the study on mice found no such occurrence in female mice that had the same deficiency. This may have something to do with the different levels of hormones in males and females.
"Because estrogen may function through the NCOA5 gene and previously has been found to play somewhat of a protective role against both diseases, the result is a decreased risk in females," he said. "Since males produce lower amounts of estrogen, this can contribute to their susceptibility."
Though live cancer has often been linked to type 2 diabetes, not many studies have been conducted explaining the link of the two diseases. Findings of this study can give rise to more therapeutic options in a world where type 2 diabetes is widespread and treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma is limited.
"At this point, it's not known if the genetic deficiency can be reversed and needs to be investigated further," Xiao said. "But if it can somehow be changed through treatments such as drug therapies, this could substantially increase the chances of men in particular warding off these diseases."
Liver cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer among American men. This cancer occurs in livers damaged by birth defects, alcohol abuse, or chronic infection with diseases such as hepatitis B and C, hemochromatosis.
Other factors that affect this type of liver cancer include weight, race, history of diabetes, anabolic steroid use, inherited metabolic diseases and rare diseases. like alpha -1-antitrypsin deficiency, tyrosinemia, and Wilson's disease.
