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Older Mice Defy Cancer Odds, Develop Fewer Aggressive Lung Tumors
13 Nov
Summary
- Elderly mice develop fewer, less aggressive lung tumors than younger mice
- PTEN gene mutation has stronger effect on cancer in young mice compared to old
- Findings challenge belief that cancer risk increases with age
According to a study conducted by Stanford Medicine researchers and published in 2025, the elderly appear to be at a lower risk for developing cancer compared to their younger counterparts. The study, which observed mice over a 15-week period, found that older rodents (nearly two years old) developed significantly fewer and less aggressive lung tumors than younger mice (four to six months old).
This surprising discovery challenges the widely-held belief that the risk of cancer increases with age. "We would expect that older animals would get more and worse cancers, but that's not at all what the study found," said Dr. Monte Winslow, an associate professor involved in the research.
To better understand the underlying biological mechanisms, the researchers tested the impact of disabling 25 tumor-suppressing genes. One gene, known as PTEN, stood out as having a much stronger effect on cancer in young mice compared to older mice. This suggests that the efficacy of cancer therapies targeting specific mutations may differ between young and old patients.
While the implications for human health remain to be seen, the findings could lead to updated models and enhanced treatments for cancer patients of all ages.
