038-Senescence in cancer

This paper explores the multifaceted role of cellular senescence in cancer, defining it as a state of stable cell-cycle arrest that paradoxically acts as both a tumor-suppressive mechanism and a contributor to tumor progression. It details the hallmarks of senescent cells (SnCs), including their resistance to proliferation and apoptosis, and the complex senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The document further discusses various drivers of senescence in cancer, the consequences of SnCs within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and emerging therapeutic strategies that either induce or eliminate SnCs, or modulate the SASP. Finally, it addresses the potential of AI-driven methodologies for detecting and characterizing SnCs, highlighting their importance in advancing precision medicine in oncology.

References:

• Colucci M, Sarill M, Maddalena M, et al. Senescence in cancer[J]. Cancer Cell, 2025.