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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

A Sensitive Method to Quantify Senescent Cancer Cells
Published on: August 2, 2013
Senescence and Cancer
Sulin Zeng1,2, Wen H Shen2, Li Liu1
1Department of Microbiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Senescence is a double-edged sword that can function in opposite directions. It is a potential mechanism for a cell to avoid malignant transformation. However, senescence can also promote cancer development by altering the cellular microenvironment through a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). At least, three types of cellular stress such as activation of oncogenes, loss of tumor suppressor genes, and chemo/radiotherapy can induce cell senescence. Oncogene-induced senescence can be intertwiningly associated with the replicative senescence. Early-stage senescence may protect cell from transformation, while prolonged senescence often promotes cancer development. This review will focus on the characteristics of senescence, discuss the regulation of senescence during cancer development, and highlight the complexity of senescence that makes cancer treatment challenging.
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