Midkine at the Crossroads of Aging and Cancer

Aging in mammals, including humans, is marked by a multitude of molecular, cellular, and systemic changes that increase the risk of various diseases, including cancer. Although the link between aging and increased cancer incidence is well documented, the precise biological mechanisms driving tumor initiation remain less clear. In a recent issue of Cancer Cell, Yan and colleagues have identified midkine, a heparin-binding growth factor, as an age-related biomarker mediating both aging-related phenotypes and cancer development. Further exploration of these molecular dynamics, alongside the development of targeted drugs, holds great promise for reducing aging-related cancer incidence.