New research from Stanford University reveals that extreme age may provide a surprising protective effect against cancer. In a study using genetically engineered mice, very old mice developed fewer and smaller tumours compared with younger animals, challenging the conventional belief that cancer risk rises continuously with age. The findings suggest that ageing itself may trigger biological mechanisms that suppress tumour growth, a phenomenon also observed in very elderly humans, where cancer incidence plateaus or declines after around 85 years. The study highlights the importance of considering age in cancer research and could influence how treatments are developed for older patients. Understanding how ageing alters cancer susceptibility may pave the way for therapies that exploit thes

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