New research from Fox Chase Cancer Center shows that melanoma spreads more aggressively in middle-aged mice than in young or very old ones. The pattern appears linked to changes in a specific type of immune cell over time.
Researchers presented the findings at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. Cancer spread reached its peak in middle-aged mice while remaining lower in young mice and declining again in very old mice. Mitchell Fane, the lead investigator, noted that most laboratory studies use only young mice, which limits understanding of how cancer behaves in older patients.
