Abstract

Organisms with renewable tissues use a network of genetic pathways and cellular responses to prevent cancer. The main mammalian tumour-suppressor pathways evolved from ancient mechanisms that, in simple post-mitotic organisms, act predominantly to regulate embryogenesis or to protect the germline. The shift from developmental and/or germline maintenance in simple organisms to somatic maintenance in complex organisms might have evolved at a cost. Recent evidence indicates that some mammalian tumour-suppressor mechanisms contribute to ageing. How might this have happened, and what are its implications for our ability to control cancer and ageing?

Author affiliations

1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, USA; and Buck Institute for Age Research, 8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, California 94945, USA.
   Email: jcampisi@lbl.gov