According to new research conducted at Stanford University, extreme age may provide a protective effect against lung cancer. Older laboratory mice were found to develop fewer lung tumors and those tumors were less aggressive compared to tumors in younger mice. This outcome challenges the long-standing belief that cancer risk simply climbs with age.
Study on Genetically Engineered Mice
A group of researchers conducted a study on genetically-engineered mice to figure out the cause of this behaviour. The study published in Nature Aging. “It’s a striking finding,” associate professor of genetics and of pathology Monte Winslow, PhD, said. “We would expect that older animals would get more and worse cancers, but that’s not at all what the study found. So, what is it about the molecular changes associated with aging that suppress cancer?”
KRAS Mutation and Tumor Burden Analysis
The study involved introducing KRAS gene mutation to the mice and developing lung cancer in them. The mice were in two different age groups of 4-6 months old and 21-22 months old. The older mice had two to three times lower tumor burdens in comparison to the younger ones.
Age-Related Findings on Cancer Risk
Growing old makes a person more vulnerable to various diseases but this study by Stanford University has suggested that after the age of 85, chances of contracting cancer decrease significantly. Although probability of a person developing cancer increases during the Middle Ages and into the older age; but it was noticed that lung cancer risk plateaued or even disease for people in advanced old age.
Tumor Suppressor Gene Behaviour
The scientists discovered that tumor suppressor genes were inactivated by tumors more easily in younger mice in comparison to the aged. The older people experienced less incidence of cancer.
Wrapping Up
This research challenges the idea that cancer risk always rises with age. Extremely old mice showed slower tumor growth, hinting that aging biology may offer some protection. This search could have profound implication in cancer treatment.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your healthcare professional for any medical needs.
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