Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have proposed targeting certain types of senescent cells as part of cancer treatment. This could prevent inflammation that contributes to the uncontrolled growth of breast and pancreatic tumors. The study results published In the journal Cancer Discovery.
Scientists have explained that senescent cells in the body (those that have lost the ability to divide) have a reduced ability to absorb nutrients and repair chromosomal damage. An increase in their number can trigger a chronic inflammatory process in the body, which can trigger the development of cancer. The elimination of senescent cells with medication is called senolytic therapy.
An experiment in mice with various types of breast cancer showed that eliminating certain senescent cells in the tumor environment activated the immune system’s natural killer cells (NK cells) and other immune functions that suppressed tumor growth. Drugs that selectively triggered the elimination of nondividing cells also activated T lymphocytes (a subtype of immune cell) in mice with pancreatic cancer. This slowed tumor growth.
According to the researchers, the use of senolytic drugs could be an effective addition to other cancer treatments (immunotherapy and chemotherapy). The scientists added that senescent cells alter immunity differently in breast and pancreatic cancer. Additional research is needed to optimize senolytic therapy according to the “target” cancer type.
Earlier scientists learnedhelps cancer cells resist treatment.