Organization for the Study of Sex Differences, 4th Annual Meeting, June 3 - 5, 2010, Ann Arbor, MI

Sex Differences in Oxidative Stress,
Non-Reproductive Cancers, and Longevity

Chairperson:
David J. Waters, PhD, DVM, Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation,
West Lafayette, IN

Symposium Goals:

Emerging data from women and from animal studies suggest ovaries promote longevity. This session will focus on two possible mechanistic underpinnings of the longevity-promoting effects of ovaries: reduction of oxidative stress and protection against non-reproductive cancers. The goal is to provide an integrated framework for designing additional studies to define ovary-sensitive biological processes and to develop strategies that promote healthy longevity.

Rationale For This Symposium

Why is this symposium so exciting and timely?

Despite the growing body of evidence that there are sex differences in longevity, little progress has been made to elucidate underlying mechanisms. In this OSSD Symposium, we will focus on the role of the ovary. Recently published data from >29,000 nurses suggest women who keep their ovaries for the first 50 years live longer (Parker et al., May 2009). These results represent an interesting convergence with data generated from a nationwide study in pet dogs showing that ovaries promote exceptional longevity, but the female survival advantage is erased if dogs lose their ovaries during the first 4 years of life. This session will utilize these 2 studies — which show the longevity-promoting effects of ovaries in women and dogs — to frame a discussion of possible mechanistic mediators of ovarian influence, namely oxidative stress reduction and protection against non-reproductive cancers. That the ovary may protect against lung cancer (women) and bone cancer (dogs) is a particularly provocative observation that deserves further careful study.