The Interplay of Aging and Cancer: Mechanisms, Implications, and Therapeutic Strategies

ABSTRACT Aging is a complex biological process that significantly influences human health, including susceptibility to cancer. Although aging and cancer are distinct phenomena, they intersect through shared molecular mechanisms such as genomic instability, telomere(definition) attrition, epigenetic alterations, and chronic inflammation. Despite increasing recognition of these connections, how aging‐related changes influence cancer development and treatment remains poorly understood. This review explores the intricate relationship between aging and cancer, highlighting how age‐related changes in the tumor microenvironment, systemic inflammation and cellular senescence(definition) contribute to oncogenesis and tumor progression. We also assess the impact of aging on cancer treatment outcomes, as well as how cancer and its therapies may contribute to the acceleration of biological aging. Furthermore, we discuss potential intervention strategies that target the aging‐related mechanisms that drive cancer development and progression. We review current progress and future directions in aging and cancer research, emphasizing that, with continuous technological advances and deepening insights, incorporating aging biology into oncology is both timely and necessary. By integrating recent advances in cancer biology and geroscience, this review offers insights critical for designing age‐adapted therapeutic strategies. It underscores the need to shift toward personalized oncology approaches that account for the biological and clinical heterogeneity of aging.