Common breast cancer therapies may speed up aging, study shows
· News-MedicalThe findings, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, show that markers of cellular aging-;such as DNA damage response, cellular senescence, and inflammatory pathways-;significantly increased in all breast cancer survivors, regardless of the type of treatment received. This suggests that the impact of breast cancer treatments on the body is more extensive than previously thought.
Advances in cancer therapies have greatly improved survival rates, with an estimated 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today and over 6 million expected by 2040. However, breast cancer is linked to accelerated aging, impacting physical abilities, independence, and lifespan. Biological aging processes, which drive conditions like fatigue, cognitive decline, frailty, and cardiovascular disease, appear to be a major factor. Evidence suggests that cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, can increase the risk of earlier onset of these aging-related conditions, making it crucial to understand the specific pathways involved to better target and manage them.
The team tracked the gene expression in their blood cells using RNA sequencing, focusing on markers that signal biological aging -; including a process known as cellular senescence, which is when cells stop dividing but don't die. These so-called "zombie cells" accumulate over time and can release harmful substances that damage nearby healthy cells, contributing to aging and inflammation.
The team found that regardless of treatment type there was an increase in expression of genes that track cellular processes involved in biological aging. Specifically, genes that capture cellular senescence and the inflammatory signal from these cells, indicating that their immune cells were aging faster than normal.
"We've only just begun to understand the long-term consequences of cancer therapy and these findings are a critical step toward understanding the biological pathways that drive many post-treatment symptoms in breast cancer survivors," added Carroll. "Our goal is to find ways to improve survivorship, not just in terms of years lived, but also in quality of life and overall health."
Carroll and Bower also are affiliated the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. Other UCLA authors include Catherine Crespi, Steve Cole, Patricia Ganz and Laura Petersen.
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