The phenomenon of aging is intrinsically linked to a heightened vulnerability to cancer, particularly in the elderly, making it a pressing public health concern. In individuals aged 65 and older, who account for over 60% of newly diagnosed malignant tumors, cancer outcomes and treatment responses are notably poorer. This challenge is deeply rooted in the complex interplay of the hallmarks of aging — genomic instability, cellular senescence, and chronic inflammation, among others. These factors, along with a general decline in physiological functions, create a conducive environment for tumor initiation and progression. Despite advancements in oncology, the nuanced understanding of these aging-cancer connections remains limited, underscoring the necessity for targeted research to develop effective strategies for this demographic.
This Research Topic aims to gather pioneering research that explores the fundamental biological hallmarks of aging and their implications for tumor biology. By doing so, it seeks to uncover the roles these aging-related features play in the different stages of cancer initiation, development, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Researchers are encouraged to examine how cellular senescence, loss of genome stability, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation contribute to tumor dynamics. Studies that investigate the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and shifts in immune surveillance are of particular interest, as they offer new insights into the development of precision oncology and therapeutic strategies in the context of aging.
To deepen our understanding of how age-related molecular characteristics influence tumorigenesis, we invite contributions in the form of original research, reviews, and perspectives on various themes, including:
• Investigations on how senescent cells alter the tumor microenvironment and contribute to therapeutic resistance. • Studies examining the impact of age-related changes in the immune system, such as immunosenescence and chronic inflammation, on cancer progression. • Exploration of the roles of microbiome aging and dysbiosis in cancer susceptibility and evolution. • Analyses of age-related genomic instability and epigenetic modifications in cancer development. • Research on the effects of proteostasis loss due to aging and its ties to tumorigenesis.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
