Longevity & AgingSenescent Cells Fuel Tumor Growth by Building Cancer's Blood Supply
As we age, cells that stop dividing but refuse to die — called senescent cells — accumulate in our tissues and release harmful signals known as SASP. A new review in Aging Cell examines how these senescent cells contribute to colitis-associated cancer by promoting abnormal blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), which feeds tumors. Unlike typical colorectal cancer, this gut cancer follows an inflammation-driven pathway where SASP chemicals support tumor blood supply through multiple redundant mechanisms — not just VEGF, the usual drug target. This makes standard anti-VEGF therapies less effective, pointing to senolytic strategies that clear senescent cells as a potentially more powerful intervention for aging-related gut cancers.
