Research progress on the spatiotemporal dynamics of therapy-induced senescence in remodeling the tumor

Qingqing Zhao1, Yunyan Yu2, Chaorui Pu3

  • 1Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|February 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Therapy-Induced Senescence (TIS) remodels the tumor microenvironment (TME) through its secretory phenotype. Understanding TIS

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Therapy-Induced Senescence (TIS) is a cellular state triggered by cancer treatments.
  • The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) is a key characteristic of TIS.
  • TIS significantly influences the Tumor Microenvironment (TME).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the spatiotemporal dynamics of TIS in the TME.
  • To elucidate the dual role of TIS in cancer progression and suppression.
  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting TIS.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review focusing on TIS and TME interactions.
  • Analysis of SASP-mediated effects on TME components.
  • Examination of TIS heterogeneity across treatment stages and locations.

Main Results:

  • TIS, via SASP, drives multidimensional TME reprogramming.
  • Key effects include Cancer-Associated Fibroblast (CAF) activation, Vasculogenic Mimicry (VM) promotion, metabolic reprogramming, and immune landscape modulation.
  • The dual tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting functions of TIS present a significant challenge.

Conclusions:

  • TIS has a complex, context-dependent role in cancer therapy.
  • Defining the threshold between TIS's beneficial and detrimental effects is crucial.
  • Future strategies may involve multi-omics monitoring, AI, and targeted interventions for novel combination therapies.

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