Gothenburg Scientists Link Aging, ATF4 to Lung Cancer Spread

Scientists at the University of Gothenburg, led by Volkan Sayin and Clotilde Wiel, have discovered that aging alters the biological behavior of lung cancer, making it more prone to spreading. Their study, published in Nature (journal), identified a stress-response protein called ATF4, which is hijacked by tumors in older individuals to reprogram their metabolism, facilitating metastasis despite slower primary tumor growth. Higher ATF4 levels were linked to increased cancer recurrence and lower survival rates in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The researchers propose a new treatment strategy by targeting ATF4 or its controlled metabolic processes, suggesting that existing drugs previously deemed ineffective might work better if precisely applied to older patients with high ATF4 activity. This finding emphasizes the need for cancer research and drug development to focus more on the biological effects of aging.