Cellular senescence—when cells stop dividing permanently—plays a complex dual role in cancer. This comprehensive review from Memorial Sloan Kettering reveals how senescence acts as both a tumor suppressor and cancer promoter. While senescent cells initially protect against cancer by halting damaged cell division, they can later fuel tumor growth through inflammatory signals. The research highlights emerging therapeutic strategies to harness senescence for cancer treatment, including drugs that either induce senescence in cancer cells or eliminate harmful senescent cells from the tumor environment.
