Cancer and Aging: A Complex Biological Association

Ana Patricia Navarrete-Reyes, Department of Geriatrics, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México D.F., Mexico
Enrique Soto-Pérez-de-Celis, Geriatrics Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Arti Hurria, Cancer and Aging Program, Division of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in both developing and developed countries. It is also a particularly significant health problem in older populations since half of all malignancies occur in patients aged 70 years or older. Cancer is a disease of aging, and as such there is a strong biological association between the mechanisms of aging and carcinogenesis. During the past few decades, mechanisms of aging exerting pro- and anti-oncogenic effects have been described, and the role of these mechanisms in cancer treatment and prognosis is currently being investigated. In this review we describe the different theories of aging and the evidence on the biological link between these mechanisms and carcinogenesis. Additionally, we review the implications of the biology of aging on the treatment and prognosis of older adults with cancer, and the opportunities for translational research into biomarkers of aging in this patient population.

Keywords: Cancer. Elderly. Oncogenesis. Cancer treatment.