Aging and Cancer: The Waning of Community Bonds

Cancer often arises in the context of an altered tissue landscape. We argue that a major contribution of aging towards increasing the risk of neoplastic disease is conveyed through effects on the microenvironment. It is now firmly established that aged tissues are prone to develop clones of altered cells, most of which are compatible with a normal histological appearance. Such increased clonogenic potential results in part from a generalized decrease in proliferative fitness, favoring the emergence of more competitive variant clones. However, specific cellular genotypes can emerge with reduced cooperative and integrative capacity, leading to disruption of tissue architecture and paving the way towards progression to overt neoplastic phenotypes.

Automated summary

Cancer often arises in the context of an altered tissue landscape, with aging playing a major role in increasing the risk of neoplastic disease through effects on the microenvironment. Aged tissues are prone to develop clones of altered cells with normal histological appearance, resulting in increased clonogenic potential but decreased proliferative fitness, favoring the emergence of more competitive variant clones. However, specific cellular genotypes may emerge with reduced cooperative and integrative capacity, leading to tissue architecture disruption and progression to overt neoplastic phenotypes.