The importance of sex as a biological variable in cancer research

Sex is an important biological variable that has an impact on all aspects of human health and disease. Yet, it is greatly unappreciated in both basic and translational cancer research, and most concerningly in cancer clinical trials. In this review we summarize how patients’ biological sex influences cancer risk, the biology of cancer and its response to anticancer therapy. We present data from the past decade on the genetic, genome-wide, metabolic and immune differences between sexes and how they relate to cancer development and progression. Ultimately, we highlight the importance of considering sex as a variable in all aspects of cancer research and recommend guidelines for implementation.