Abstract
The continuous increase in life expectancy results in a steady increase of cancer risk, which consequently increases the population of older adults with cancer. Older adults have their age-related nutritional needs and often suffer from comorbidities that may affect cancer therapy. They frequently are malnourished and present advanced-stage cancer. Therefore, this group of patients requires a special multidisciplinary approach to optimize their therapy and increase quality of life impaired by aging, cancer, and the side effects of therapy. Evaluation strategies, taking advantage of comprehensive geriatric assessment tools, including the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), can help individualize treatment. As epigenetics, an emerging element of the regulation of gene expression, is involved in both aging and cancer and the epigenetic profile can be modulated by the diet, it seems to be a candidate to assist with planning a nutritional intervention in elderly populations with cancer. In this review, we present problems associated with the diet and nutrition in the elderly undergoing active cancer therapy and provide some information on epigenetic aspects of aging and cancer transformation. Nutritional interventions modulating the epigenetic profile, including caloric restriction and basal diet with modifications (elimination diet, supplementary diet) are discussed as the ways to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy and maintain the quality of life of older adults with cancer.
Highlights
Aging of societies implies an increasing number of cancer diagnoses in the elderly [1]
This fact is that diet and nutrition influence epigenetic mechanisms playing a role in the pathogenesis of many exploited in epigenetic therapies with the use of drugs modulating the epigenetic profile diseases, including cancer
Nutrition care during active cancer therapy should be directed to increase the efficacy of the therapy, reduce unwanted side effects, prevent nutritional deficiencies, and maintain weight and quality of life [34]
Summary
Aging of societies implies an increasing number of cancer diagnoses in the elderly [1]. Any kind of cancer therapy is a serious challenge and burden for the patient, so it should be adjusted to the nutritional status of the patient and vice versa. The care of older adults with cancer is complex due to competing comorbidities, multiple drugs in cognitive functions, and other features complicating the care. The care of older with cancer is of complex to competing comorbidities, mouth sores, that may influence theadults nutritional status cancerdue patients. Cancer is multiple drugs usage, deficit in cognitive functions, and other features complicating the care. On the frequently associated with weight loss and a dietary intervention may be recommended in such cases. A European study showed that over 70% of elderly cancer patients presented undernutrition, defined as mouth sores, that may influence the nutritional status of cancer patients. Epigenetic regulation ofthat gene expression is an emerging in human molecular genetics,
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
