Common Pathogenetic Mechanisms Underlying Aging and Tumor and Means of Interventions

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of malignant tumors among the older population. Moreover, there is an association between aging and cancer. During the process of senescence, the human body suffers from a series of imbalances, which have been shown to further accelerate aging, trigger tumorigenesis, and facilitate cancer progression. Therefore, exploring the junctions of aging and cancer and searching for novel methods to restore the junctions is of great importance to intervene against aging-related cancers. In this review, we have identified the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of aging-related cancers by comparing alterations in the human body caused by aging and the factors that trigger cancers. We found that the common mechanisms of aging and cancer include cellular senescence, alterations in proteostasis, microbiota disorders (decreased probiotics and increased pernicious bacteria), persistent chronic inflammation, extensive immunosenescence, inordinate energy metabolism, altered material metabolism, endocrine disorders, altered genetic expression, and epigenetic modification. Furthermore, we have proposed that aging and cancer have common means of intervention, including novel uses of common medicine (metformin, resveratrol, and rapamycin), dietary restriction, and artificial microbiota intervention or selectively replenishing scarce metabolites. In addition, we have summarized the research progress of each intervention and revealed their bidirectional effects on cancer progression to compare their reliability and feasibility. Therefore, the study findings provide vital information for advanced research studies on age-related cancers. However, there is a need for further optimization of the described methods and more suitable methods for complicated clinical practices. In conclusion, targeting aging may have potential therapeutic effects on aging-related cancers.

Keywords: aging; cancer; interventions; pathogenetic mechanisms; similarities.

Figure 1.

Common pathogenetic mechanisms between aging and cancer.

Figure 2.

Disabling cellular senescence in cancer. 1. Powerful telomerase activity attenuates telomere erosion; 2. Realigning redox improves antioxidant capacity; 3. Although activation of individual oncogenes triggers cell proliferative arrest in the early stage, subsequent inactivation of anti-oncogenes and activation of multiple oncogenes restores cell proliferation.

Figure 3.

Common means of interventions between aging and cancer.