[DNA repair--a fundamental factor in ageing and development of cancer]

Advanced age and increased incidence of many illnesses such as cancer are closely linked. The reasons for such a link are numerous but one important factor is DNA repair. DNA repair pathways in both nuclei and mitochondria ensure that genomic instability is minimised, thus preventing transformation and premature cellular decay. However, overall cellular DNA repair capacity decreases with age; moreover, some individuals are born with defects in repair systems. The resulting lower capacity for repair of DNA damage increases mutation load and changes normal cellular functions such as transcription, thereby contributing to the ageing process as well to the onset of various cancers. DNA repair capacity is an important cellular marker that should be considered as a standard clinical test.