Cancer-related accelerated ageing and biobehavioural modifiers: a framework for research and clinical care

Judith E Carroll; Julienne E Bower; Patricia A Ganz

doi:10.1038/s41571-021-00580-3

Cancer-related accelerated ageing and biobehavioural modifiers: a framework for research and clinical care

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022 Mar;19(3):173-187. doi: 10.1038/s41571-021-00580-3. Epub 2021 Dec 6.

Authors

Judith E Carroll^{1

2

3}, Julienne E Bower^{4

5

6

7}, Patricia A Ganz^{6

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. JCarroll@mednet.ucla.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. JCarroll@mednet.ucla.edu.
³ Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. JCarroll@mednet.ucla.edu.
⁴ Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁶ Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Health Policy & Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Medicine (Hematology-Oncology), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

A growing body of evidence indicates that patients with cancer who receive cytotoxic treatments (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy) have an increased risk of accelerated physical and cognitive ageing. Furthermore, accelerated biological ageing is a suspected driving force behind many of these observed effects. In this Review, we describe the mechanisms of biological ageing and how they apply to patients with cancer. We highlight the important role of specific behavioural factors, namely stress, sleep and lifestyle-related factors such as physical activity, weight management, diet and substance use, in the accelerated ageing of patients with cancer and cancer survivors. We also present a framework of how modifiable behaviours could operate to either increase the risk of accelerated ageing, provide protection, or promote resilience at both the biological level and in terms of patient-reported outcomes.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aging
Cancer Survivors*
Diet
Exercise
Humans
Life Style
Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding