The Metabolism of Cancer Survivorship
As advances in oncology contribute to a growing number of cancer survivors, the darker side of cancer therapies is becoming increasingly clear. Cancer survivors experience shortened life expectancy and suffer from inflammatory and fibrotic diseases at much higher rates compared to the general population. Our recent discoveries (Maus et al. Nature Metabolism, 2023) suggest a possible link between the adverse effects of cytotoxic therapies and iron accumulation. In this project, our goal is to shed light on how cancer therapy disrupts systemic and cellular iron homeostasis, how this is linked to cellular senescence, fibrosis and accelerated aging in individuals who underwent cytotoxic therapies. Our aim is to deliver novel diagnostics and therapeutics that can improve the lives of cancer survivors.
Research projects
Redefining Cancer Survivorship: Targeting Therapy- and Age-Related Iron Accumulation
About the project
Despite advances in targeted cancer therapy, damage to healthy tissues and resulting complications remain a major obstacle to the longevity of cancer survivors. Complications post-cancer therapy include several pathologies normally associated with aging, such as frailty, myocardial infarction, cognitive decline, and tissue fibrosis. Clinical care is hampered by a lack of understanding of the causes of health decline in cancer survivors and the absence of detection tools or treatments. The discovery of innovative strategies to identify and mitigate the unintended progeroid effects of DNA-damaging cancer therapies may provide a means to combat accelerated aging and improve the quality of life and longevity of cancer survivors. Recently, we discovered that individuals undergoing cancer therapy accumulate abnormal amounts of iron. While we do not fully understand why iron accumulates, we have found that it contributes to the complications observed in cancer survivors. In this project, our goal is to understand how cancer therapy causes iron accumulation, how the accumulated iron contributes to health decline, and whether targeting iron could help cancer survivors live longer and healthier lives.
In the lab
Francesca Cogo is heading up this research project in the lab.
Francesca Cogo
PhD student
Aging and Cancer lab
