Regulation of cellular senescence in tumor progression and therapeutic targeting: mechanisms and pathways

• Published in: Molecular cancer Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 106 - 31
• Main Authors: Liu, Bowei, Peng, Zhigang, Zhang, Hao, Zhang, Nan, Liu, Zaoqu, Xia, Zhiwei, Huang, Shaorong, Luo, Peng, Cheng, Quan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 02.04.2025; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Cancer; Causes of; Cells; Cellular senescence; Cellular Senescence - drug effects; Cellular Senescence - genetics; Development and progression; Disease Progression; DNA damage; Drug targeting; Health aspects; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Oncology, Experimental; Review; SASP; Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Therapy; Tumor; Tumor Microenvironment; China; Therapy; Tumor; SASP; DNA damage; Cellular senescence
• ISSN: 1476-4598; 1476-4598
• DOI: 10.1186/s12943-025-02284-z

Cellular senescence, a stable state of cell cycle arrest induced by various stressors or genomic damage, is recognized as a hallmark of cancer. It exerts a context-dependent dual role in cancer initiation and progression, functioning as a tumor suppressor and promoter. The complexity of senescence in cancer arises from its mechanistic diversity, potential reversibility, and heterogeneity. A key mediator of these effects is the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), a repertoire of bioactive molecules that influence tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling, modulate cancer cell behavior, and contribute to therapeutic resistance. Given its intricate role in cancer biology, senescence presents both challenges and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Strategies targeting senescence pathways, including senescence-inducing therapies and senolytic approaches, offer promising avenues for cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory mechanisms governing cellular senescence in tumors. We also discuss emerging strategies to modulate senescence, highlighting novel therapeutic opportunities. A deeper understanding of these processes is essential for developing precision therapies and improving clinical outcomes.