The Biology of Aging and Lymphoma: a Complex Interplay

The probability to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma grows with age. The biological links between aging and lymphoma are not well described in the literature, and different hypothesis may be raised to explain this complex relationship. First, the impact of chronological age favoring the accumulation of genetic alterations can contribute to the multisteps proces of lymphomagenesis. Then, the age-related defects in cancer protection and the age-related clonal restriction in hematopoietic stem cell may also promote lymphoma development. Finally, the senescent and immunosenescence phenotype might represent a key process explaining this link. In this review, we will explore the current available clinical data and their ability to apply to age-related regulation pathways.