Cancer ResearchSenescent Non-Cancer Cells Inside Tumors Are Reshaping Cancer Outcomes
When cells in and around a tumor become senescent — entering a state of permanent growth arrest — they don't just sit idle. This review highlights that non-cancerous senescent cells within tumors actively remodel the tumor microenvironment through secreted signals, immune system modulation, and structural tissue changes. These effects can promote tumor growth, help cancer cells evade treatment, and increase relapse risk. The authors examine three key drivers of this process: oncogene-induced senescence, therapy-induced senescence, and age-related tissue changes. They also discuss emerging treatments called senotherapies — including senolytics, which selectively kill senescent cells, and senomorphics, which suppress their harmful secretions — as promising strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
