title: Ageing as an Important Risk Factor for Cancer.
abstract: An ageing population is a typical feature of many developed countries across the world. Analyzed from a biomedical and philosophical point of view, this phenomenon is also a potential risk factor for social sustainability of communities. The association between ageing and cancer seems to be more than apparent. Therefore, the further increase of epidemic-like incidence of malignant tumors in a population can be expected in the near future. Elderly people usually suffer from age-dependent diseases, and such polymorbidity can seriously affect the treatment of malignant tumors. Such an impending situation may be associated with multiple medical, social and economic issues. This article summarizes data about the possible molecular mechanism influencing rapid spreading of tumors in the elderly population. Reduction of the activity of DNA repair machinery is a likely genetic cause. Besides this, even epigenetic mechanisms can influence this process. In this context, the role of cancer stroma in controlling multiple biological properties of tumors is a prospective target for translational research with potential therapeutic outcomes.
authors: Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic karel.smetana@lf1.cuni.cz aleksi@cesnet.cz.|BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic.
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Smetana
authors: Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.|Department of Dermatology and Venerology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Lukáš
authors: L
authors: Lacina
authors: Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.|BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic.|Department for Biomedical Research, East-Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Inc., Kosice, Slovak Republic.
authors: Pavol
authors: P
authors: Szabo
authors: Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.|BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic.
authors: Barbora
authors: B
authors: Dvořánková
authors: Catholic Theological Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Prokop
authors: P
authors: Brož
authors: Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic karel.smetana@lf1.cuni.cz aleksi@cesnet.cz.
authors: Aleksi
authors: A
authors: Šedo
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Ageing; DNA repair; cancer incidence; cancer microenvironment; genetic instability; review