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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.10.21.760777

Sex Differences in DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Reveal Distinct Molecular Programs in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Doshi, B.·Gomez, E. C.·Foster, B. A.·Wang, J.·Sule, N.·Huss, W. J.·Woloszynska, A.
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Abstract

Sex differences in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) incidence and outcomes are well established, but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. We integrated genome-wide DNA methylation and RNA sequencing to define sex-associated epigenetic and transcriptional programs in human MIBC and evaluated their conservation in the N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) mouse model. Male tumors exhibited substantially broader DNA methylation remodeling, whereas female tumors showed prominent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mitotic programs. These sex-associated patterns were recapitulated in BBN tumors, with substantial conservation of human MIBC methylation changes and transcriptional programs. Cross-species integration identified conserved methylation-regulated genes, including ADAMTS12, ONECUT2, and PPP2R2C, whose expression increased following pharmacologic DNA demethylation and was associated with disease progression. Given the potential role of sex chromosomes in sex-associated molecular differences in MIBC, we evaluated X-chromosome inactivation escape and Y-linked gene expression. Reduced expression of an X-chromosome inactivation escape signature was independently associated with shorter overall survival, while reduced Y-linked gene expression was associated with immune activation. Together, these findings identify conserved sex-associated epigenetic programs in MIBC and demonstrate distinct methylation, transcriptional, and sex-chromosome features that may contribute to sex differences in bladder cancer biology and clinical outcomes.

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Doshi, B., Gomez, E. C., Foster, B. A., Wang, J., Sule, N., Huss, W. J., Woloszynska, A.. 2026-10-23. Sex Differences in DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Reveal Distinct Molecular Programs in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.21.760777

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