Aging of an individual entails a progressive decline of functional reserves and loss of homeostasis that eventually lead to mortality. This process is highly individualized and is influenced by multiple genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. This individualization and the diversity of factors influencing aging result in a significant heterogeneity among people with the same chronological age, representing a major challenge in daily oncology practice. Thus, many factors other than mere chronological age will contribute to treatment tolerance and outcome in the older patients with cancer. Clinical/comprehensive geriatric assessment can provide information on the general health status of individuals, but is far from perfect as a prognostic/predictive tool for individual patients. On the other hand, aging can also be assessed in terms of biological changes in certain tissues like the blood compartment which result from adaptive alterations due to past history of exposures, as well as intrinsic aging processes. There are major signs of 'aging' in lymphocytes (e.g. lymphocyte subset distribution, telomere length, p16INK4A expression), and also in (inflammatory) cytokine expression and gene expression patterns. These result from a combination of the above two processes, overlaying genetic predispositions which contribute significantly to the aging phenotype. These potential "aging biomarkers" might provide additional prognostic/predictive information supplementing clinical evaluation. The purpose of the current paper is to describe the most relevant potential "aging biomarkers" (markers that indicate the biological functional age of patients) which focus on the biological background, the (limited) available clinical data, and technical challenges. Despite their great potential interest, there is a need for much more (validated) clinical data before these biomarkers could be used in a routine clinical setting. This manuscript tries to provide a guideline on how these markers can be integrated in future research aimed at providing such data.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2013.09.001 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older patients : Consensus statement of the Working Group on Pneumology in Older Patients.
Z Gerontol Geriatr
January 2025
Geriatrie, Universität Witten-Herdecke, Alfred Herrhausenstraße 50, 58455, Witten, Germany.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent disease from which approximately 8% of individuals aged 40 years and above suffer. The prevalence increases up to fivefold as age advances. Following an introduction including the etiology, measurement, characteristic features and classification of COPD, this article presents the consensus recommendations of the German Working Group on Pneumology in Older Patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreoperative low prealbumin independently predicts non-gastric cancer death after gastrectomy in elderly and young patients: a retrospective cohort study.
Surg Today
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, The Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31, Ariake, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan.
Purpose: To investigate the effect of preoperative prealbumin levels on long-term survival outcomes after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer (GC) dichotomized based on age.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for primary stage I-III GC between May 2006 and March 2017. Patients were allocated to groups based on age (≥ 70 or < 70 years) and subgroups based on prealbumin levels (high, ≥ 22 mg/dL; moderate, 15-22 mg/dL; or low, < 15 mg/dL), and multivariate Cox regression was used for survival analyses.
Genital graft versus host disease in women after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation - a single center experience.
Ann Hematol
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.
Chronic Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), affecting the female genital tract in 25-66% of the patients. This condition, referred to as Genital GVHD is an underdiagnosed gynecologic comorbidity, that can significantly impair quality of life. We aimed to describe the prevalence and management of genital GVHD following HSCT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSupporting Unhealthy Substance use care Through a whole person Approach and user centered INtegration into primary care (SUSTAIN): Study protocol for a type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.
J Subst Use Addict Treat
January 2025
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, United States of America.
Background: Unhealthy substance use (USU) is common and ranges from use above guideline-recommended levels to severe substance use disorder. USU results in substantial morbidity and mortality yet primary care practices rarely systematically screen, diagnose, and treat USU. Supporting Unhealthy Substance use care Through a whole person Approach and user centered INtegration into primary care (SUSTAIN) tests whether the implementation of a co-designed change package for USU improves patient function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLerodalcibep and evolocumab for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia with PCSK9 inhibition (LIBerate-HoFH): a phase 3, randomised, open-label, crossover, non-inferiority trial.
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol
January 2025
LIB Therapeutics, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Electronic address:
Background: Lerodalcibep, a small binding anti-PCSK9 protein (adnectin), showed effective LDL cholesterol reduction in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of lerodalcibep and evolocumab in a globally diverse homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia population.
Methods: This phase 3, randomised, open-label, crossover, non-inferiority study consisted of two 24-week treatment periods separated by an 8-week washout.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!