Aging in mammals, including humans, is marked by a multitude of molecular, cellular, and systemic changes that increase the risk of various diseases, including cancer. While the link between aging and increased cancer incidence is well documented, the precise biological mechanisms driving tumor initiation remain less clear. In a recent issue of Cancer Cell, Yan and colleagues have identified Midkine, a heparin-binding growth factor, as an age-related biomarker mediating both ageing related phenotypes and cancer development. Further exploration of these molecular dynamics, alongside the development of targeted drugs, holds great promise for reducing aging-related cancer incidence.

中文翻译：

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Midkine 处于衰老和癌症的十字路口


哺乳动物（包括人类）的衰老以多种分子、细胞和全身变化为标志，这些变化会增加患各种疾病（包括癌症）的风险。虽然衰老与癌症发病率增加之间的联系有据可查，但驱动肿瘤发生的确切生物学机制仍不太清楚。在最近一期的《癌细胞》杂志上，Yan 及其同事确定了肝素结合生长因子 Midkine 是一种与年龄相关的生物标志物，可介导与衰老相关的表型和癌症发展。对这些分子动力学的进一步探索以及靶向药物的开发，对降低与衰老相关的癌症发病率具有很大的希望。