The Epigenetic Aging-Cancer Continuum: Biomarkers, Metabolism, And Therapy
Our bodies undergo a continuous process where aging and cancer are deeply intertwined. This connection is heavily influenced by how our genes are regulated without changing the underlying DNA sequence, a process known as epigenetics. As we age, these epigenetic changes can create an environment that promotes cancer development.
Beyond epigenetics, disruptions in our body’s energy-making processes (metabolism), ongoing inflammation, and cells that stop dividing but remain active (cellular senescence) also contribute to this complex relationship. What we eat and how our bodies process nutrients are crucial, as they impact key metabolic pathways that can either support healthy cell function or contribute to disease.
Fortunately, scientists are discovering tiny clues in our blood, called circulating biomarkers, that can help. These include fragments of DNA with specific chemical tags (cell-free DNA methylation), mutated DNA from tumors (mutation-based ctDNA), and various non-coding RNA molecules. These biomarkers offer a minimally invasive way to detect changes related to aging, inflammation, nutrition, and even how a patient is responding to treatment.
Understanding how adaptable these epigenetic changes are (epigenetic plasticity) and how cancer cells can temporarily survive drug treatments (drug-tolerant states) is vital. This knowledge is paving the way for new therapies, including drugs that target epigenetic mechanisms, treatments that disrupt cancer cell metabolism, and even nutritional strategies to combat the disease. Advanced technologies, such as examining epigenetic changes in individual cells or across tissues, are accelerating the discovery and clinical use of these important biomarkers.
Source: link to paper