Immunosenescence in Childhood Cancer Survivors and in Elderly: A Comparison and Implication for Risk Stratification

The population of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) has grown rapidly in recent decades. Although cured of their original malignancy, these individuals are at increased risk of serious late effects, including age-associated complications. An impaired immune system has been linked to the emergence of these conditions in the elderly and CCS, likely due to senescent immune cell phenotypes accompanied by low-grade inflammation, which in the elderly is known as “inflammaging.” Whether these observations in the elderly and CCS are underpinned by similar mechanisms is unclear. If so, existing knowledge on immunosenescent phenotypes and inflammaging might potentially serve to benefit CCS. We summarize recent findings on the immune changes in CCS and the elderly, and highlight the similarities and identify areas for future research. Improving our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and immunosenescent markers of accelerated immune aging might help us to identify individuals at increased risk of serious health complications.