Ischemia speeds tumor growth via immune aging

A study from NYU Langone Health finds that restricted blood flow ages the bone marrow, weakening immune defense and accelerating breast tumor growth in mice.

Ischemia speeds tumor growth via immune aging

Researchers from NYU Langone Health published in JACC CardioOncology that reduced blood flow in the leg arteries caused breast tumors in mice to grow about twice as fast as those in normal blood flow. The team showed that ischemia triggers aging-like changes in bone marrow and shifts the immune system toward cells that dampen anti-tumor responses. The tumor microenvironment also accumulates immune-suppressive cells and undergoes chromatin changes that make it harder for immune cells to activate cancer-fighting genes.

The researchers argue that managing vascular and metabolic risk factors could become part of a comprehensive cancer strategy and see potential in inflammation-targeted therapies to counter these effects. They hope to design clinical studies to test whether these findings translate to humans and whether existing anti-inflammatory approaches can blunt post-ischemic changes that promote tumor growth.

The study reframes cancer growth as a byproduct of aging-like shifts in the immune system caused by poor blood flow. It suggests a more integrated view of care, where cardiovascular health and cancer prevention are connected. Yet the work is in mice, not people, so caution is needed before changing clinical practice. If confirmed in humans, the finding could push for broader cardiovascular screening in cancer patients and justification for inflammation-focused therapies as part of standard oncology care.

In a broader sense, the research underscores how aging processes and vascular disease can intersect with cancer, potentially altering how doctors weigh risk factors and cost in treatment plans. It also raises questions about screening, preventive care, and how to balance targeted cancer therapies with strategies that keep the body's immune system robust.

Highlights

A reminder that patient care should consider heart health as part of cancer prevention and treatment.