Lee S W, Wei J Y
Gerontology Division, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Clin Geriatr Med. 1997 Feb;13(1):69-77.
The increased incidence of cancer as a function of age has long been interpreted to suggest that multiple genetic changes are required for tumorigenesis. Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many characteristics, including loss of differentiation, increased invasiveness, and decreased drug sensitivity. Although recent molecular advances have helped to clarify the possible relationships between carcinogenesis and aging, it remains unclear whether genetic markers may be common to all cancer types or which markers may be associated with increased age of cancer patients. Fundamental aspects of cancer development for older people are not well understood. Further insight into the genetic factors that may be responsible for the initiation and progression of cancer and their connections to the aging process may be gained in part by studying in vitro cellular or replicative senescence.
癌症发病率随年龄增长而增加，长期以来一直被解释为表明肿瘤发生需要多个基因变化。癌细胞在许多特征上与正常细胞不同，包括分化丧失、侵袭性增加和药物敏感性降低。尽管最近的分子进展有助于阐明致癌作用与衰老之间的可能关系，但尚不清楚遗传标记是否对所有癌症类型都通用，或者哪些标记可能与癌症患者年龄增加有关。老年人癌症发展的基本方面尚未得到充分理解。通过研究体外细胞衰老或复制性衰老，可能会部分地深入了解可能导致癌症发生和发展的遗传因素及其与衰老过程的联系。
