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SENECA<br />
From Cellular Senescence and Cell Death<br />
to <strong>Cancer</strong> and Ageing<br />
Summary<br />
The main objective of the SENECA project is to improve the<br />
awareness of ageing research among cancer researchers,<br />
stimulating cooperation between the two disciplines. To<br />
achieve this objective a conference will be organized to<br />
provide a forum for scientifi c exchange among leading scientists<br />
working in the fi elds of ageing and cancer, as well as<br />
to stimulate cooperation aimed at redefi ning molecular targets<br />
and improving cancer prevention and therapeutics in<br />
the ageing population. The discussion will focus on such<br />
issues as DNA damage, telomeres and telomerase in cancer<br />
and ageing, eff ects of tissue environment in tumour formation,<br />
impact of the ageing immune system on cancer<br />
immunosurveillance and immunotherapy, links between<br />
stem cells and cancer and ageing, links between tumour<br />
suppression and cellular senescence, and cellular senescence<br />
as a new target in anticancer therapy. Attendance of<br />
approx. 300 scientists and representatives of other key<br />
stakeholder groups from around the world is anticipated.<br />
Problem<br />
Age is the most important demographic risk factor for many<br />
life-threatening human cancers. Over two-thirds of all diagnosed<br />
cancers occur in people over the age of 65. According<br />
to IARC, worldwide cancer rates increase sharply with age:<br />
for the age group 65 years and older incidents of cancer are<br />
2-3 times higher than in the 45-64 age group and 12-36 times<br />
higher than in the 25-44 age group. The increased incidence<br />
of cancer in elderly people has been related to age-associated<br />
changes occurring with time in the whole system. The<br />
elderly are more vulnerable than younger individuals to environmental<br />
carcinogens not only because of potentially<br />
greater exposure time, but for other reasons, including<br />
impaired macromolecular repair and defense against reactive<br />
oxygen species, age-dependent changes in tissue<br />
environment facilitating increased pro-infl ammatory status,<br />
possibly diminished immuno-surveillance of malignant transformation<br />
and pro-cancerogenic activity of senescent cells.<br />
Since tumours include cancer cells with an extensive proliferative<br />
history, subject to senescence and senescenceavoidance<br />
mechanisms, cancer researchers commonly study<br />
various aspects of biological ageing. However, many cancer<br />
specialists, clinicians, and industry representatives remain<br />
unaware of what ageing research can offer for cancer<br />
70<br />
Keywords | <strong>Cancer</strong> | ageing | cellular senescence | cell death | DNA damage | telomerase | immunosurveillance |<br />
prevention and therapy. Presently the research fi elds of<br />
biological ageing and cancer in Europe remain largely<br />
fragmented, without structured links or widespread interdisciplinary<br />
approaches.<br />
Aim<br />
The main goal of the project is to improve the awareness of<br />
ageing research among cancer researchers, stimulating<br />
cooperative research between the two disciplines. The<br />
enhanced cooperation should aim at redefi ning molecular<br />
targets and improving cancer prevention and therapeutics<br />
in the ageing population. This goal will be achieved by<br />
organizing an international conference for approximately<br />
300 participants October 4-6, 2007.<br />
Expected results<br />
The conference will provide a forum for scientifi c exchange<br />
among outstanding European scientists working in the fi elds<br />
of ageing and cancer. The discussion will focus around such<br />
issues as: DNA damage, telomeres and telomerase in cancer<br />
and ageing, eff ects of tissue environment in tumour formation,<br />
impact of the ageing immune system on cancer<br />
immunosurveillance and immunotherapy, links between<br />
stem cells and cancer and ageing, links between tumour<br />
suppression and cellular senescence, and cellular senescence<br />
as a new target in anticancer therapy. The conference<br />
will also bring together other key stakeholder groups such<br />
as policy makers, clinicians and industry.<br />
The proposed event will contribute to attracting scientists<br />
from cancer research and other disciplines to ageing<br />
research. It will help to establish sustainable organizational<br />
links between these two closely related scientifi c fi elds,<br />
structuring European research in oncogerontology.<br />
Potential applications<br />
The planned conference is expected to:<br />
• stimulate cancer specialists to use the insights, results<br />
and methodologies stemming from ageing research in<br />
studying aetiology, prevention and therapy of cancer,<br />
especially in the elderly;<br />
• design strategies as to how basic research results in cancer<br />
and ageing can be best transferred into industrial<br />
exploitation and clinical practice. This may be an important<br />
starting point for the development of new preventive<br />
and therapeutic measures. It may give a whole new<br />
dimension to geriatric medicine, as it will shift the<br />
emphasis from care – which is extremely expensive – to<br />
maintenance of function and prevention of disease as<br />
long as possible.<br />
CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
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