As we age, the concentration of a gene called p16INK4a in our cells is aimed at, among other things,
slowing down the process of cell division, gradually increases, becoming a potentially very useful molecular marker of changes taking place in our body.
High levels of this gene are also observed after chemotherapy in adults, but rather not in children and adolescents, although these also have elevated levels.
According to scientists, it is possible to identify patients affected by the so-called
weakness syndrome, which is most often described as a state of reduced physiological reserves and a decrease in resistance to stressors. The consequence is an increase in susceptibility to the occurrence of various adverse diseases, which is a very serious matter, so they decided to check it.
The study included 60 young recoveries with an average age of 21 years - some literally a few months after the first treatment, others for years, who had their weakness measured using a clinical tool to assess factors such as weakness, slowness and muscle mass.
Most of them had noticeably higher levels of p16INK4a compared to a healthy control group of their age, and the researchers say the disease caused them to have levels equivalent to those who were a few years old at age 25.
Moreover, the higher the expression of the p16INK4a gene in convalescents, the stronger the weakness syndrome - the strongest occurred in the patient whose p16INK4a levels corresponded to a person at the age of 35.
According to the researchers, this is valuable information because it can help doctors more effectively identify young cancer patients who need special attention and additional help to avoid additional complications and further diseases in the future.
Additionally, scientists believe that the level of the p16INK4a gene can also be used as a marker in research into the effectiveness of anti-aging therapies and to mitigate the effects of cancer therapies.