Influence of Prostate Cancer Radiation on Aging
Condition: Prostate Cancer; Aging Disorder; Radiotherapy; Complications; Inflammation
MeSH terms: Prostatic Neoplasms; Inflammation
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Previous studies have reported that cancer survivors develop age-related chronic conditions
      like frailty, sarcopenia, cardiac dysfunction, and cognitive impairment earlier and/or at a
      greater burden than similarly aged individuals never diagnosed with cancer or exposed to
      cancer therapies.

      However, the knowledge about aging-associated consequences of cancer treatment and the
      processes that underlie differential responses to therapy is very limited. In 2018, a think
      tank established by the National Cancer Institute has defined various research needs to
      expand the evidence base for aging-related consequences of cancer treatment, such as studies
      to examine aging-related processes that include regularly performed assessments capturing
      factors associated with physical function or studies to elucidate pathways that lead to the
      emergence of aging phenotypes and to understand the relationships between biomarkers of aging
      and functional outcomes in cancer survivors. In addition, study inclusion of older adults
      with comorbidities and higher levels of frailty has been proposed to achieve an improved
      understanding of functional outcomes at any age.

      Hypotheses / objectives We hypothesize that prostate cancer radiotherapy accelerates
      aging-related processes, furthermore, aging-related biomarkers may predict functional
      outcomes and represent early indicators of aging phenotypes. Primary objectives of the
      proposed study are the determination of the aging-related consequences of radiotherapy in
      prostate cancer patients and the evaluation of the relationship between biomarkers of aging
      and age-related clinical conditions.
    

Detailed description: 
      Systematic evaluations of functional and cognitive status, comorbidities, health status,
      mobility, nutritional status, psychological status, and social circumstances as well as
      measurements of cellular senescence and chronic inflammation will be performed in a cohort of
      prostate cancer patients at baseline (before radiotherapy), at the end of radiotherapy and at
      follow-up intervals thereafter. The evaluation of aging-related biomarkers will include
      determination of markers of cellular senescence and markers of systemic inflammation. The
      correlation between genetic variants modulating telomere length and the risk of developing
      age-related phenotypes will also be analyzed.
    

Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        prostate cancer patients treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology,
        Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Graz. Prostate cancer patients who are
        candidates for curative radiotherapy will be invited to take part by the local
        investigators.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood
    
Keywords: telomere length; aging; radiotherapy