BACKGROUND: Centenarians are exceptionally long living individuals who escaped the most common age-related diseases. In particular they appear to be effectively protected from cancers. The mechanisms that underlie this protection are quite complex and still largely unclear. AIM: To critically analyse the literature in order to propose a unifying hypothesis that can account for this cancer protection in centenarians. METHODS: Review of the scientific literature regarding three main players in tumourigenesis such as IGF-1, inflammation and p53, and centenarians. RESULTS: Centenarians appear to be characterised by low IGF-1-mediated responses and high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-beta, a condition that results in protection from cancer. Both inflammation and IGF-1 pathway converge on the tumour suppressor p53. Accordingly, some studies indicate that genetic variants of p53 are associated with human longevity by providing protection from cancer mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The available data let us to hypothesise that among other possible mechanisms, well-preserved p53-mediated responses are likely a key factor contributing to protection from cancer in centenarians.
BACKGROUND: Centenarians are exceptionally long living individuals who escaped the most common age-related diseases. In particular they appear to be effectively protected from cancers. The mechanisms that underlie this protection are quite complex and still largely unclear. AIM: To critically analyse the literature in order to propose a unifying hypothesis that can account for this cancer protection in centenarians. METHODS: Review of the scientific literature regarding three main players in tumourigenesis such as IGF-1, inflammation and p53, and centenarians. RESULTS: Centenarians appear to be characterised by low IGF-1-mediated responses and high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-beta, a condition that results in protection from cancer. Both inflammation and IGF-1 pathway converge on the tumour suppressor p53. Accordingly, some studies indicate that genetic variants of p53 are associated with human longevity by providing protection from cancer mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The available data let us to hypothesise that among other possible mechanisms, well-preserved p53-mediated responses are likely a key factor contributing to protection from cancer in centenarians.
Authors: Sandra Rodríguez-Rodero; Juan Luis Fernández-Morera; Edelmiro Menéndez-Torre; Vincenzo Calvanese; Agustín F Fernández; Mario F Fraga Journal: Aging Dis Date: 2011-04-28 Impact factor: 6.745
Authors: S Memmert; L Gölz; P Pütz; A Jäger; J Deschner; T Appel; G Baumgarten; B Rath-Deschner; S Frede; W Götz Journal: Clin Oral Investig Date: 2015-12-01 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: Jian Chen; Jun Li; Fei Chu Lim; Qi Wu; Daniel C Douek; Donald K Scott; Eric Ravussin; Hui-Chen Hsu; S Michal Jazwinski; John D Mountz Journal: Mech Ageing Dev Date: 2009-11-24 Impact factor: 5.432