Open AccessCellular Senescence and the Immune System in Cancer
Author(s) -
Luis I. Prieto,
Darren J. Baker
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
gerontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.397
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1423-0003
pISSN - 0304-324X
DOI - 10.1159/000500683
Subject(s) - senescence , carcinogenesis , immune system , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mechanism (biology) , cancer cell , cancer , cellular senescence , cell , immune surveillance , cell growth , immunology , cell cycle , cancer research , neuroscience , genetics , phenotype , gene , philosophy , epistemology
In response to a variety of cancer-inducing stresses, cells may engage a stable cell cycle arrest mechanism, termed cellular senescence, to suppress the proliferation of preneoplastic cells. Despite this cell intrinsic tumor suppression, senescent cells have also been implicated as active contributors to tumorigenesis by extrinsically promoting many hallmarks of cancer, including evasion of the immune system. Here, we discuss these dual, and seemingly contradictory, roles of senescence during tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we highlight findings of how senescent cells can influence the immune system and discuss the possibility that immune cells themselves may be acquiring senescence-associated alterations. Lastly, we discuss how senescent cell avoidance or clearance may impact pathology.