Cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest, is critical in both the aging process and cancer development. Recent scientific advancements have shed light on the multifaceted nature of cellular senescence. Initially perceived as an evolutionary mechanism to eliminate damaged cells and thwart malignant transformation, senescence is now recognized for its duality in cancer dynamics. The accumulation of senescent cells, while initially serving as a safeguard against cancer, can engender long-term repercussions, particularly through the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors encapsulated within the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), thereby fostering a conducive milieu for tumorigenesis. Moreover, as organisms age, the accumulation of senescent cells over time can overwhelm the immune system's capacity to clear them, further exacerbating their detrimental effects on tissue function and homeostasis and contributing to tissue dysfunction and overall physiological decline.
Therefore, understanding the complex interplay of senescence in both cancer and aging contexts remains crucial for developing targeted therapeutic approaches that harness its beneficial aspects while mitigating its deleterious effects and developing interventions to modulate the senescence-associated processes in cancer. This Collection on Cellular senescence, aging, and cancer is interested in the following topics:
- Senescence-associated secretory (SASP) phenotype in cancer
- Aging and its impact on cellular senescence
- Age-related changes in SASP composition and its implications for cancer progression
- Age-related immune dysfunction and its interaction with senescent cells in cancer
- Senescence as a mediator of age-related genomic instability in cancer
- Therapeutic targeting of senescent cells in cancer
- The role of cellular senescence in tumor dormancy and recurrence
- Senescence evasion mechanisms in cancer cells
- Cellular senescence in the context of cancer immunotherapy
- Senescence as a driver of therapy resistance in cancer
- The interplay between senescence and cancer stem cells
- Senescence-induced alterations in the tumor microenvironment
- Strategies to modulate the SASP phenotype for cancer therapy
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