Endocrinology of cancer and age: Early and late developmental stages

Abstract

Processes essential for hormone-dependent carcinogenesis occur at different developmental stages, even the earliest. Early deviations in the hormone–metabolic status often inversely correlate with the risk of common age-associated noncommunicable diseases, in particular, tumors in hormone-dependent tissues and cardiovascular disorders. Another paradox is the increase in reproductive system tumor incidence at the age associated with lower production of mitogenic hormones. Therefore, one should take into account the production of steroids directly in target tissues and recognize the importance of the progenotoxic effect of estrogens and their derivatives. Another noteworthy aspect is the role of endocrine–genotoxic switchings, which form the so-called basic triad, generated by age-associated endocrine shifts and environmental factors. In addition to the steroid-dependent set of cancer risk factors, attention should be paid to nonsteroid ones (such as those associated with insulin resistance or inflammatory cytokines), since they are tightly connected with the immune system functional state, mild chronic inflammation, obesity phenotype, and pro-/antiinflammatory lipid factor ratio. All these considerations confirm the importance of timely preventive interventions at early and late developmental stages, which are often several decades apart.