Targeting cellular senescence to combat cancer and ageing

Abstract

Senescence is a complex cellular process that is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. It is characterized by a stable state of cell growth arrest and by a secretome of diverse pro-inflammatory factors, chemokines and growth factors. In this review, we summarize the context-dependent role of cellular senescence in ageing and in age-related diseases, such as cancer. We discuss current approaches to targeting senescence to develop therapeutic strategies to combat cancer and to promote healthy ageing, and we outline our vision for future research directions for senescence-based interventions in these fields.

Topics & Concepts