Oncogenic Senescence: A Multi-Functional Perspective
February 2017
in “
Oncotarget
”
TLDR Cellular senescence has both cancer-blocking and cancer-promoting effects, and targeting senescent cells may improve health and lifespan.
The document from 2017 explores the complex role of cellular senescence in cancer and age-related diseases, noting both its tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects. It discusses the need for novel tools to study senescent cells, the accumulation of these cells over time, and their contribution to tissue deterioration. The document highlights research on the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the role of the chromatin reader BRD4 in regulating SASP genes, and the impact of therapy-induced senescence on cancer growth. It also mentions the S47 variant's role in cancer susceptibility among African Americans and the potential of CDK8/19 inhibitors to attenuate senescence-associated tumor-promoting properties. The document concludes with the importance of understanding the interaction between immune cell function and senescent cells for comprehending tumorigenesis and the potential for "senolytic" agents to selectively eliminate senescent cells, which may improve health and extend survival.
