Understanding the molecular mechanisms linking aging and cancer

It has become apparent that two modern components, longevity and lifestyle, have major impacts on both the type and incidence of cancers. However, it remains unclear how longevity links the incidence of cancers. We think that “cellular senescence” may play key role(s) linking aging and cancer in vivo. In our laboratory, we are aiming to understand the signaling pathways that induce cellular senescence in vivo and to elucidate how these pathways are perturbed in cancer cells. We believed that understanding the molecular mechanisms involved will provide valuable new insights into the development of cancer and aging, and open up new possibilities for their control.