A new review entitled “Senescence as a therapeutic target in cancer and age-related diseases” from the Senescence group has been published in @NatRevDrugDisc! 🥳 🧵: 1/12 https://t.co/OdkgiY5vtD
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Senescence is an area of focus for LMS research so to celebrate we’re sharing this top-level overview of the paper. The article was written by Dr Domnhall McHugh and Dr Imanol Durán, who work with Professor Jesús Gil – a world leader in senescence research. 🧵: 2/12
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Senescent cells, also referred to as zombie cells 🧟♂️, have exited the cell cycle. As we age, we accumulate senescent cells, leading to age-related disease. This review looks at how researchers are targeting senescent cells to treat these diseases. 🧵: 3/12
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The methods developed for targeting senescence can broadly be categorised as senolytics, senomorphic and reverting or delaying senescence. 🧵: 4/12
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Senolytics are compounds that cause senescent cells to die. This is the most researched method and there’s a lot of evidence demonstrating its efficacy. Proof of concept studies have shown that senolytics cannot only treat but also prevent age-related disease in mice. 🧵: 5/12
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What makes this method even better is these results were achievable using intermittent senolytic treatment, and they had minimal side effects. However, these results were found in mice and not humans. 🧵: 6/12
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Interestingly, these senolytic drugs can be used to treat cancer, in a method called a one-two punch 🥊 By inducing senescence in tumour cells, the senolytics can then be used to clear the cancer! 🧵: 7/12
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Senomorphic treatments work by neutralising the harm of senescent cells rather than destroying them 🏳️ This means that senescent cells that may be necessary will not be killed, while still relieving symptoms. However, the treatment would need to be taken often. 🧵: 8/12
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It may also be possible to treat age-related disease by reverting senescence. However, this method may be quite risky, as entering senescence is a strategy for avoiding cancer, so there is a chance of causing cancer. 🧵: 9/12
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Very excitingly a number of these therapies are currently in clinical trials! Senomorphics are in phase II trials for diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to Covid-19, while senomorphics are in phase II trials to treat ageing. 🧵: 10/12
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While there is much to be excited over, the authors state that there are a range of challenges to this field. This is mainly the variation within senescent cells which make them hard to monitor and also target. 🧵: 11/12
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Thank you so much for reading our little sum up of this review paper! And congrats for getting to the end! 🧵: 12/12
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