Aging and cancer: Clinical role of tumor markers in the geriatric population (Review)

Abstract

Aging, with the progressive deterioration and functional decline of several organ systems, is highly heterogeneous for both between and within individuals. Tumor markers are widely used in clinical practice as a screening test for individuals >50 years of age. More specifically, caring for elderly patients is a public health concern, given the incidence of cancer and its related mortality and morbidity. A multidisciplinary diagnostic procedure known as a geriatric assessment is capable of identifying functional, psychological and physiological issues that are missed by standard evaluation. The present review focuses on cancers affecting the geriatric population, highlights current opportunities and challenges, and highlights the unmet need for clinically relevant tumor markers in elderly patients with cancer. A comprehensive geriatric examination, including a biological assessment, still requires conveniently available tumor markers and their levels in older populations in order to forecast deterioration or loss of functional balance. These tumor indicators ought to make it possible to track patients using other outcomes, such overall survival and functional impairment. Despite the notable progress made in the understanding of human biology, the mechanisms and networks underlying aging remain largely unknown. In addition, as elderly patients are a highly heterogeneous population, age-related changes cannot be distinguished solely by chronological age. Strong clinical studies, well-established protocols and meta-analyses may contribute to the better utilization of tumor biomarkers in the elderly population. Hence, the present review addresses the effects of aging on tumor markers and the usefulness of tumor marker values for the geriatric population. Contents1. Introduction 2. Biological aging and cancer tumor markers 3. Tumor markers and the elderly 4. Prognostic, predictive and diagnostic markers 5. Genomic instability in aging cells 6. Age-stratified and sex-specific reference intervals 7. Conclusion and future perspectives