Epigenetic Landscapes of Aging in Breast Cancer Survivors: Unraveling the Impact of Therapeutic Interventions-A Scoping Review

Breast cancer therapies have dramatically improved survival rates, but their long-term effects, especially on aging survivors, need careful consideration. This review delves into how breast cancer treatments and aging intersect, focusing on the epigenetic changes triggered by chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal treatments, and targeted therapies. Treatments can speed up biological aging by altering DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling, affecting gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. The review explains the double-edged sword effect of therapy-induced epigenetic modifications, which help fight cancer but also accelerate aging. Chemotherapy and targeted therapies, in particular, impact DNA methylation and histone modifications, promoting chronic inflammation and shortening telomeres. These changes increase biological age, as seen in epigenetic clocks and biomarkers like p21, which also play roles in drug resistance and therapeutic decisions. Chronic inflammation, driven by higher levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 as well as telomere shortening, significantly contributes to the aging characteristics of breast cancer survivors. Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, are crucial in regulating gene expression and aging pathways altered by these treatments. This review explores new therapies targeting these epigenetic changes, like DNA methylation inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and microRNA-based treatments, to reduce the aging effects of cancer therapy. Non-drug approaches, such as dietary changes and lifestyle modifications, also show promise in combating therapy-induced aging. It also highlights the clinical signs of aging-related side effects, such as heart and lung problems, endocrine and reproductive issues, and reduced quality of life. The development of comprehensive methods like the CHEMO-RADIAT score to predict major cardiovascular events after therapy is discussed. Understanding the epigenetic changes caused by breast cancer therapies offers valuable insights for creating interventions to enhance the health span and quality of life for survivors. Continued research is crucial to fully understand these epigenetic alterations and their long-term health impacts.