Metabolism of Cancer Survivorship | Aging And Cancer Lab

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Metabolism of Cancer Survivorship and Recurrence

Cancer therapy saves lives but can also reshape the body’s metabolism in ways that persist long after treatment ends. Radiation and chemotherapy act as ecological stressors: they damage the organs and cells that sustain the body’s metabolic supply chains — from nutrient processing and distribution to immune and stromal regulation. As these supply chains falter, tissues experience chronic scarcities of key metabolites, leading to impaired regeneration, weakened immunity, and altered cellular competition.

Research projects

Therapy-induced metabolic bottlenecks and late effects in childhood cancer survivors

How do therapy-induced metabolic changes accelerate aging and health decline in survivors?

Childhood cancer survivors face elevated risks of frailty, cardiovascular disease, and other late complications that mirror accelerated aging. We investigate how prior therapy disrupts systemic and tissue-specific iron metabolism, creating metabolic bottlenecks that impair regeneration and organ function. By linking metabolic imaging, biomarkers, and molecular signatures of aging, we aim to uncover targets for early detection and intervention that extend both lifespan and healthspan after cancer.

In the lab: Francesca Cogo, PhD student, leads this project.

Metabolic rewiring and recurrence in breast cancer survivors

How do chemo- and radiotherapy reshape tissue ecology to favor tumor recurrence?

After therapy, breast tissue does not simply return to its pre-disease state — its metabolic and stromal environment changes. We ask how these ecological shifts, including persistent nutrient shortages and stromal dysfunction, create conditions that allow dormant or resistant cells to re-emerge. By identifying the key metabolic bottlenecks and senescence-driven cues that sustain this vulnerability, we aim to find strategies to restore healthy tissue balance and reduce recurrence risk.

In the lab: Adelina Silvana, MD/PhD and ESMO fellow, leads this project.