article = {COR-2020-6-101}
title = {Kidney Cancer Research: Sex-Inclusive but Sex-Unspecific}
journal = {Clinical Oncology and Research}
year = {2020}
issn = {2613-4942}
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.COR.2020.06.01}
url = {https://www.sciencerepository.org/kidney-cancer-research-sex-inclusive-but-sex-unspecific_COR-2020-6-101 
author = {Adrian  Fuentes-Bonachera,Armelle  Meunier,Darragh  Waters,Laure Marignol,Rustom P.  Manecksha,Thomas H.  Lynch,}
keywords = {Sex, kidney, male, female, patient}
abstract ={Background: Preclinical and clinical research is largely inclusive of both the female and the male
population, but the lack of specific separation of data according to patient sex prevents the detection of the
impact of sex on cancer biology and response to medications and treatment. This study aimed to examine
the consideration of sex as a biological variable in preclinical and clinical studies in kidney cancer.
Methods: Preclinical and clinical studies pertaining to kidney cancer published in three leading urology
journals over a two-year period were reviewed for the reporting of cells, animal or patient sex, and the
inclusion of sex as a biological variable in both study design and data analysis.
Results: 171 clinical studies and 5 preclinical studies were included. While the sex of the participants was
disclosed in all but 10 of the 171 clinical studies reviewed, the patient populations were largely maledominated (male to female ratio > 1.5). Only 5 studies contained more female than male patients. Sexspecific reporting was performed in 3% of studies, and only 37% included sex as part of the statistical
analysis. 26% of these identified a statistically significant difference in measured outcomes between male
and female participants.
Conclusion: Kidney cancer research is sex-inclusive, but the female patient population remains
underrepresented. The consideration of sex in data analysis is low and could prevent the identification of
key sex-specific optimization opportunities for the improved management of the disease.}