SASPects of Radiation Induced Senescence

Cellular senescence is a complex process of irreversible growth arrest which contributes to several physiological and pathological conditions. A variety of intrinsic or extrinsic stress signals, including those induced by Radiation Therapy (RT) also in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, are able to cause stress-induced premature senescence in cancer cells (known as Therapy-Induced Senescence, TIS). Although TIS may inhibit tumor growth following RT, a number of outstanding issues about long-term tumor control and recurrence still remain unclear. The aim of this review is to describe the principal aspects of radiation induced senescence, the molecular pathways involved and the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). Finally, we report some therapeutic applications with the use of targeted molecules in TIS approaches.