Therapy-Induced Senescence: Opportunities to Improve Anti-Cancer Therapy
Recommended Citation
Prasanna PG, Citrin DE, Hildesheim J, Ahmed MM, Venkatachalam S, Riscuta G, Xi D, Zheng G, van Deursen J, Goronzy J, Kron SJ, Anscher MS, Sharpless NE, Campisi J, Brown SL, Niedernhofer LJ, O'Loghlen A, Georgakilas AG, Paris F, Gius D, Gewirtz DA, Schmitt CA, Abazeed ME, Kirkland JL, Richmond A, Romesser PB, Lowe SW, Gil J, Mendonca MS, Burma S, Zhou D, and Coleman CN. Therapy-Induced Senescence: Opportunities to Improve Anti-Cancer Therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst 2021.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2021
Publication Title
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Abstract
Cellular senescence is an essential tumor suppressive mechanism that prevents the propagation of oncogenically activated, genetically unstable, and/or damaged cells. Induction of tumor cell senescence is also one of the underlying mechanisms by which cancer therapies exert antitumor activity. However, an increasing body of evidence from preclinical studies demonstrates that radiation and chemotherapy cause accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs) both in tumor and normal tissue. SnCs in tumors can, paradoxically, promote tumor relapse, metastasis, and resistance to therapy, in part, through expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. In addition, SnCs in normal tissue can contribute to certain radiation- and chemotherapy-induced side effects. Because of its multiple roles, cellular senescence could serve as an important target in the fight against cancer. This commentary provides a summary of the discussion at the National Cancer Institute Workshop on Radiation, Senescence, and Cancer (August 10-11, 2020, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD) regarding the current status of senescence research, heterogeneity of therapy-induced senescence, current status of senotherapeutics and molecular biomarkers, a concept of "one-two punch" cancer therapy (consisting of therapeutics to induce tumor cell senescence followed by selective clearance of SnCs), and its integration with personalized adaptive tumor therapy. It also identifies key knowledge gaps and outlines future directions in this emerging field to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
PubMed ID
33792717
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
