Age-Related Epigenetic Dysregulation in Cancer Development: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets

In 2021, it was estimated that one in ten people were over 65. This proportion of elderly people is only expected to increase, with projections expecting one in six people to be over 65 by 2050. Consequently, as the aging population, particularly in regions like the United States, continues to grow, understanding how the process of biological aging increases susceptibility to the development of cancer is becoming increasingly important. Indeed, understanding the epigenetic changes that occur with biological aging is becoming vital for addressing the increasing prevalence of age-related diseases, especially cancer. This paper will explore the connection between epigenetic processes and aging, underlining how this affects the deterioration of epigenetic regulatory systems overall. Furthermore, this paper will subsequently explain how the deterioration of key epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation processes, leads to age-related diseases, with a specific focus on cancer. Approaching age related diseases from an epigenetic perspective offers a valuable viewpoint for medical interventions. In fact, this approach to medication is presenting a promising way forward for our increasing aging population, as evidenced by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACis) and DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors (DNMTis) showing anti-tumor effects in clinical trials.