Dr. Carlos Trujillo links cancer and aging to DNA mutation accumulation

During the International Conference on Genomic Medicine held by the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics in Jeddah, Dr. Carlos Trujillo, a genetics professor from Colombia, presented findings regarding the biological link between cancer and aging.

Dr. Trujillo argued that cancer and aging are two sides of the same biological process, driven by the continuous accumulation of somatic mutations and DNA damage throughout a human life. He explained that while cellular division and metabolic activity naturally produce new mutations, their outcomes differ: certain mutations can cause cells to multiply uncontrollably (cancer), while widespread mutations across tissues lead to declining organ function (aging).

The lecture also addressed the ‘Peto Paradox,’ exploring why large, long-lived animals like elephants, bowhead whales, and Greenland sharks do not develop cancer at rates predicted by their size and lifespan. Dr. Trujillo noted that mechanisms protecting humans from cancer in early life, such as the p53 gene and cellular senescence, may eventually contribute to the biological costs of aging.