Understanding accelerated heart aging in young adult cancer survivors

Role of disparities and aging biomarkers in accelerated cardiac aging among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11136403

This work aims to understand why some adolescent and young adult cancer survivors experience heart aging faster than expected and to find ways to identify those most at risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11136403 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many young people treated for cancer receive therapies that can affect their heart health later in life. We've noticed that the hearts of some adolescent and young adult cancer survivors appear to function like those of much older individuals. This project will look at 1,200 cancer survivors to understand how often this accelerated heart aging happens and if there are differences among various patient groups. We also want to find specific biological signs that can help predict who might develop heart problems after cancer treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who have received cardiotoxic treatments.

Not a fit: Patients who have not had cancer or who are outside the adolescent and young adult age range may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify young cancer survivors at high risk for heart problems, allowing for earlier monitoring and potentially new ways to protect their heart health.

How similar studies have performed: While preliminary data suggests this phenomenon, the incidence and predictors of accelerated cardiac aging in this specific population are not well understood, making this a novel area of focus.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adolescent and young adult cancer patientsAdolescent and young adult cancer populationAdolescent and young adults with cancerCancer Survivor
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.