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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
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Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence
Published on: May 1, 2017
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Androgen Receptor Activation Induces Senescence in Thyroid Cancer Cells
Anvita Gupta1, Michelle Carnazza1, Melanie Jones1
1Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Cancers
|May 16, 2023
Summary
Androgen receptor (AR) activation in thyroid cancer cells induces senescence, a key factor potentially explaining the lower incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) in men. This finding offers novel insights into AR
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, disproportionately affecting women.
- Androgen receptor (AR) RNA is notably downregulated in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of androgen receptor (AR) activation in thyroid cancer (TC) cells.
- To explore the potential mechanisms underlying sex-based differences in TC incidence.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of anaplastic TC (84E7) and PTC (K1) cells to physiological levels of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
- Assessment of cell proliferation, morphology, senescence markers (β-galactosidase, p16, p21, p27), reactive oxygen species, cytokine profiles, and cell migration.
- Analysis of tumor suppressor protein expression and proteolytic invasion potential.
Main Results:
- AR activation significantly decreased proliferation by 80% and induced G1 growth arrest and senescence in TC cells.
- Senescence was characterized by morphological changes, increased senescence markers, and a non-inflammatory secretome.
- Cell migration increased six-fold, while proteolytic invasion remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Androgen receptor (AR) activation induces a novel senescence program in thyroid cancer cells.
- This AR-mediated senescence may contribute to the reduced incidence of thyroid cancer observed in men.
- AR activation presents a potential therapeutic avenue for thyroid cancer treatment.
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