Defeated cancer and aged
The activity of genes is regulated during life by epigenetic modifications of DNA that are not associated with changes in the main sequence of chains. In some patients, epigenetic acceleration of aging occurs, increasing the risk of age-related diseases in comparison with people of the same chronological age.
Researchers from Emory University, USA, studied the epigenetic acceleration of aging during and after radiation therapy and assessed the potential link between these changes and chronic fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer.
The study involved 133 patients with head and neck cancer without distant metastases, they were examined before, immediately after and 6 and 12 months after radiation therapy. Blood DNA methylation was evaluated using a patented chip (Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip), epigenetic acceleration of aging was calculated using an epigenetic clock (DNAmPhenoAge) adjusted for chronological age.
Approximately half of the participants complained of increased fatigue during treatment. Epigenetic acceleration of aging was most noticeable immediately after radiation therapy, when the average epigenetic age was increased by 4.9 years. Patients with increased fatigue and weakness epigenetically were on average 3.1 years older than patients without these complaints. In addition, patients with high levels of inflammatory markers in the blood showed an epigenetic acceleration of aging by about 5 years, and inflammation seems to explain the symptoms of increased fatigue and weakness.
The results obtained complement the body of evidence that the toxicity of anticancer therapy and, possibly, increased mortality in patients with head and neck cancer may be associated with epigenetic acceleration of aging and its association with inflammation. The authors noted that interventions to reduce inflammation, including before cancer therapy, can slow down the aging process and subsequently reduce the risk of age-related chronic health problems, including weakness.
Thus, chronic fatigue in patients receiving cancer treatment is not just a symptom – it is also of great importance for long-term health.
Article C.Xiao et al. Epigenetic age acceleration, fatigue, and inflammation in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a longitudinal study published in the journal Cancer.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Wiley: Cancer Treatments May Accelerate Cellular Aging.