Abstract:
Over recent decades, the field of cellular senescence has attracted considerable attention
due to its association with aging, the development of age-related diseases and cancer. Senescent
cells are unable to proliferate, as the pathways responsible for initiating the cell cycle are irreversibly
inhibited. Nevertheless, senescent cells accumulate in tissues and develop a pro-inflammatory
secretome, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which can have serious
deleterious effects if not properly regulated. There is increasing evidence suggesting senescent
cells contribute to different stages of carcinogenesis in different anatomical sites, mainly due to
the paracrine effects of the SASP. Thus, a new therapeutic field, known as senotherapeutics, has
developed. In this review, we aim to discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the senescence
response and its relationship with cancer development, focusing on the link between senescencerelated
inflammation and cancer. We will also discuss different approaches to target senescent cells
that might be of use for cancer treatment.
