Immunology of aging and cancer development.

Immunology of aging and cancer development. Interdiscip Top Gerontol. 2013;38:38-48 Authors: Fulop T, Larbi A, Kotb R, Pawelec G Abstract The incidence and prevalence of most cancers increase with age. The immune system is a unique mechanism of defense against pathogens and possibly cancers, however there is a body of evidence that the immune system of the aged is eroded, a phenomenon termed immunosenescence. Each arm of the immune system, innate and adaptive, is altered with aging, contributing to increased tumorigenesis. Related to immunosenescence, a low-grade inflammation also develops with aging contributing also to increase carcinogenesis. Understanding the contribution of immunosenescence to cancer development and progression may lead to better interventions in the elderly. PMID: 23503514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source: Interdisciplinary Topics in Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Tags: Interdiscip Top Gerontol Source Type: research