Hypothesis Volume 3, Issue 12 pp 1130—1141
Molecular damage in cancer: an argument for mTOR-driven aging
- 1 Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
Received: December 7, 2011 Accepted: December 31, 2011 Published: December 31, 2011
https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.100422How to Cite
Abstract
Despite common belief, accumulation of molecular damage does not play a key role in aging. Still, cancer (an age-related disease) is initiated by molecular damage. Cancer and aging share a lot in common including the activation of the TOR pathway. But the role of molecular damage distinguishes cancer and aging. Furthermore, an analysis of the role of both damage and aging in cancer argues against “a decline, caused by accumulation of molecular damage” as a cause of aging. I also discuss how random molecular damage, via rounds of multiplication and selection, brings about non-random hallmarks of cancer.