title: Aging, cancer, and cancer vaccines.
abstract: World population has experienced continuous growth since 1400 A.D. Current projections show a continued increase - but a steady decline in the population growth rate - with the number expected to reach between 8 and 10.5 billion people within 40 years. The elderly population is rapidly rising: in 1950 there were 205 million people aged 60 or older, while in 2000 there were 606 million. By 2050, the global population aged 60 or over is projected to expand by more than three times, reaching nearly 2 billion people 1. Most cancers are age-related diseases: in the US, 50% of all malignancies occur in people aged 65-95. 60% of all cancers are expected to be diagnosed in elderly patients by 2020 2. Further, cancer-related mortality increases with age: 70% of all malignancy-related deaths are registered in people aged 65 years or older 3. Here we introduce the microscopic aspects of aging, the pro-inflammatory phenotype of the elderly, and the changes related to immunosenescence. Then we deal with cancer disease and its development, the difficulty of treatment administration in the geriatric population, and the importance of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Finally, we aim to analyze the complex interactions of aging with cancer and cancer vaccinology, and the importance of this last approach as a complementary therapy to different levels of prevention and treatment. Cancer vaccines, in fact, should at present be recommended in association to a stronger cancer prevention and conventional therapies (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy), both for curative and palliative intent, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality associated to cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo University Hospital, Monza, Italy.|Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.|Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.|The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and Center for Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mirandola
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo University Hospital, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.|The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and Center for Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.|The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and Center for Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Everardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cobos
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.|The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and Center for Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiriva-Internati