Targeting senescent cancer cells

Focus on elimination of senescent cancer cells. Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute just reported in PNAS that SLC25A23 (involved in mitochondrial transmembrane transport) is a vulnerability of senescent cancer cells. Suppression of SLC25A23, or treatment with salinomycin, disrupted cellular calcium homeostasis, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and interfered with redox signaling. Treatment with salinomycin prompted a PANoptosis-like cell death in senescent cells that included apoptosis and two forms of immunogenic cell death: necroptosis and pyroptosis.