Accelerated epigenetic aging and myopenia in young adult cancer survivors

The association of prealbumin, transferrin, and albumin with immunosenescence among elderly males

OBJECTIVE

As people get older, the innate and acquired immunity of the elderly are affected, resulting in immunosenescence. Prealbumin (PAB), transferrin (TRF), and albumin (ALB) are commonly used markers to monitor protein energy malnutrition (PEM). However, their relationship with the immune system has not been fully explored.

METHODS

In our study, a total of 93 subjects (≥65 years) were recruited from Tongji Hospital between January 2015 and February 2017. According to the serum levels of these proteins (PAB, TRF, and ALB), we divided the patients into the high serum protein group and the low serum protein group. Then, we compared the percent expression of lymphocyte subsets between two groups.

RESULTS

All the low serum protein groups (PAB, TRF, and ALB) had significant decreases in the percentage of CD4+ cells, CD3+CD28+ cells, CD4+CD28+ cells and significant increases in the percentage of CD8+ cells, CD8+CD28- cells. PAB, TRF, and ALB levels revealed positive correlations with CD4/CD8 ratio, proportions of CD4+ cells, CD3+CD28+ cells, CD4+CD28+ cells, and negative correlation with proportions of CD8+ cells, CD8+CD28- cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested PAB, TRF, and ALB could be used as immunosenescence indicators. PEM might accelerate the process of immunosenescence in elderly males.

A scoping review evaluating physical and cognitive functional outcomes in cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy: charting progress since the 2018 NCI think tank on cancer and aging phenotypes

PURPOSE

The primary goal of this scoping review was to summarize the literature published after the 2018 National Cancer Institute think tank, "Measuring Aging and Identifying Aging Phenotypes in Cancer Survivors," on physical and cognitive functional outcomes among cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy. We focused on the influence of chemotherapy on aging-related outcomes (i.e., physical functional outcomes, cognitive functional outcomes, and frailty), given the known associations between chemotherapy and biologic mechanisms that affect aging-related physiologic processes.

METHODS

A search was conducted across electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for manuscripts published between August 2018 and July 2023. Eligible studies: 1) included physical function, cognitive function, and/or frailty as outcomes; 2) included cancer survivors (as either the whole sample or a subgroup); 3) reported on physical or cognitive functional outcomes and/or frailty related to chemotherapy treatment (as either the whole sample or a subgroup); and 4) were observational in study design.

RESULTS

The search yielded 989 potentially relevant articles, of which 65 met the eligibility criteria. Of the 65 studies, 49 were longitudinal, and 16 were cross-sectional; 30 studies (46%) focused on breast cancer, 20 studies (31%) focused on the age group 60 + years, and 17 (26%) focused on childhood cancer survivors. With regards to outcomes, 82% of 23 studies reporting on physical function showed reduced physical function, 74% of 39 studies reporting on cognitive functional outcomes found reduced cognitive function, and 80% of 15 studies reporting on frailty found increasing frailty among cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy over time and/or compared to individuals not treated with chemotherapy. Fourteen studies (22%) evaluated biologic mechanisms and their relationship to aging-related outcomes. Inflammation was consistently associated with worsening physical and cognitive functional outcomes and epigenetic age increases. Further, DNA damage was consistently associated with worse aging-related outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy is associated with reduced physical function, reduced cognitive function, and an increase in frailty in cancer survivors; these associations were demonstrated in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. Inflammation and epigenetic age acceleration are associated with worse physical and cognitive function; prospective observational studies with multiple time points are needed to confirm these findings.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

This scoping review highlights the need for interventions to prevent declines in physical and cognitive function in cancer survivors who have received chemotherapy.

Burden of Morbidity and Mortality in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

There are an estimated 650,00 survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers in the United States, a number that is expected to markedly increase in the coming decades. The recognition of the potential for some cancer treatments to affect the health of patients for many years after the initial diagnosis has prompted investigators to examine the evolving burden of late morbidity and mortality in AYAs with cancer after treatment completion. Studies in large international cohorts of AYA cancer survivors have now shown that the burden of late effects in survivors treated during the past four decades is substantial, affecting the health and well-being of the survivor, health systems' preparedness to meet their health care needs in the future, and societal economic costs that are largely affected by loss of productivity. We highlight the unique considerations for AYA cancer survivors, identify gaps in knowledge for future research, and provide an overview of emerging efforts to mitigate late effects in these survivors. Ongoing multidisciplinary bench-to-bedside collaborations are critical to understanding the biology of late effects in AYA cancer survivors and to developing personalized interventions to mitigate them. The growing population of AYA cancer survivors makes it imperative that these efforts extend across the cancer care continuum, which will allow survivors to ultimately live to their fullest potential.

Assessing Frailty in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Two Diseases in One?

PURPOSEOF REVIEW

This review examines the challenges of treating gastrointestinal cancer in the aging population, focusing on the importance of frailty assessment. Emphasized are the rise in gastrointestinal cancer incidence in older adults, advances in frailty assessments for patients with gastrointestinal cancer, the development of novel frailty markers, and a summary of recent trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

Increasing evidence suggests that the use of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) to identify frail older adults and individualize cancer care leads to lower toxicity and improved quality of life outcomes. However, the adoption of a full CGA prior to chemotherapy initiation in older cancer patients remains low. Recently, new frailty screening tools have emerged, including assessments designed to specifically predict chemotherapy-related adverse events. Additionally, frailty biomarkers have been developed, such as blood tests like IL-6 and performance tracking through physical activity monitors. The relevance of nutrition and muscle mass is discussed. Highlights from recent trials suggest the feasibility of successfully identifying patients most at risk of serious adverse events. There have been promising developments in identifying novel frailty markers and methods to screen for frailty in the older adult population. Further prospective trials that focus on and address the needs of the geriatric population for early identification of frailty in cancer care, facilitating a more tailored treatment approach. Practicing oncologists should select a frailty assessment to implement into their routine practice and adjust treatment accordingly.

Sarcopenia and malignancies: epidemiology, clinical classification and implications

Sarcopenia is a progressive systemic skeletal muscle disorder characterized by a pathological decline in muscle strength, quantity, and quality, which frequently affects the elderly population. The majority of cancer patients are of advanced age. Patients may already have sarcopenia prior to cancer development, and those with cancer are prone to developing sarcopenia due to hypercatabolism, inflammation, reduced physical fitness, anorexia, adverse effects, and stress associated with anticancer therapy. Based on the timing, sarcopenia in patients with cancer can be categorized into three: pre-existing sarcopenia before the onset of cancer, sarcopenia related to cancer, and sarcopenia related to cancer treatment. Sarcopenia not only changes the body composition of patients with cancer but also increases the incidence of postoperative complications, reduces therapeutic efficacy, impairs quality of life, and results in shortened survival. Different therapeutic strategies are required to match the cancer status and physical condition of patients with different etiologies and stages of sarcopenia. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the epidemiology and diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients with cancer, elucidate the complex interactions between cancer and sarcopenia, and provide evidence-based strategies for sarcopenia management in these patients.