Balancing senescence and apoptosis: therapeutic insights into aging and cancer

Aging and cancer are interconnected processes resulting from irreversible dysfunctions, primarily caused by stress-induced DNA and cellular damage. While aging is characterized by the accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs), cancer development is linked to a progressive decline in the ability of cells to undergo senescence and apoptosis. Both processes serve as crucial tumor suppressor mechanisms in early life but may contribute to aging-related pathologies over time. Cellular senescence and apoptosis are stress responses that play vital roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis. In aging, SnCs accumulate in tissues due to dysregulated apoptotic pathways, while in cancer, reduced senescence and apoptosis enable uncontrolled proliferation. Recent findings suggest that several anticancer drugs, including classical apoptosis inducers, can also promote senescence, highlighting the potential for pro-senescence strategies in cancer therapy. Understanding the mechanistic pathways and biomarkers of these processes can provide insight into their interplay and their impact on disease progression. Exploring the balance between cellular senescence and apoptosis may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for both aging and cancer. Targeting these mechanisms could help develop anti-aging and anticancer treatments with minimized adverse effects, offering promising avenues for future research and clinical applications.