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Effects of aging on anticancer therapy in murine cancer models
Aleksei G Golubev1, Margarita L Tyndyk2, Vladimir N Anisimov2
1Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, 68 Leningradskaya Ul, Pesochny, Saint Petersburg, 197758, Russia. lxglbv@rambler.ru.
Abstract:
More than half of cancer patients are over 65 years old. This proportion will increase with further population aging. Cancer properties significantly depend on patients' age, and, as a rule, cancer responsiveness to therapy decreases with patients' aging. However, aged patients are underrepresented in clinical trials, and the preclinical trials of anticancer therapy are almost invariably carried out using young mice. Compared to innumerable studies of the effects of age on carcinogenesis in mice, reports on direct comparisons of the effects of anticancer therapy in young and old mice are scarce. In the present scoping review, virtually all publications on this topic are compiled. In most cases, tumor growth inhibition and host survival improvement resulting from therapy are compromised in old mice. When adjuvant means are used to improve responses to therapy in old mice, the beneficial effects, if any, decrease with decreasing age, and thus, they may be missed in preclinical studies using young mice. Prospects for developing murine cancer models suitable for checking the effects of anticancer therapies in old patients are discussed.
Insights
Cancer treatment effectiveness decreases in older patients, yet preclinical studies predominantly use young mice. This review highlights compromised therapeutic responses in aged mice, suggesting current models may not accurately predict efficacy for elderly cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gerontology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Over 50% of cancer patients are elderly, a demographic projected to grow.
- Cancer characteristics and treatment response vary significantly with patient age.
- Elderly patients are underrepresented in clinical trials, and preclinical research often uses young animal models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compile existing literature comparing anticancer therapy efficacy in young versus aged mice.
- To assess the impact of aging on cancer treatment outcomes in preclinical models.
- To discuss the implications for developing relevant cancer models for elderly patients.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review methodology.
- Compilation and analysis of published studies on anticancer therapy in young and old mice.
- Synthesis of data on tumor growth inhibition and survival rates.
Main Results:
- Anticancer therapy efficacy, including tumor growth inhibition and survival benefits, is generally compromised in aged mice compared to young mice.
- Adjuvant therapies show diminished benefits in older mice, potentially being overlooked in studies with younger models.
- A significant scarcity of direct comparative studies exists.
Conclusions:
- Current preclinical models using young mice may not adequately represent the therapeutic landscape for elderly cancer patients.
- Aging significantly impacts cancer treatment response, necessitating age-specific preclinical research.
- Development of aged murine cancer models is crucial for evaluating therapies intended for the growing elderly cancer population.
