Melanoma study identifies a mechanism for eliminating harmful cells from cancer treatment

After treating a tumor with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cells known as senescent cells can appear. These are cells that do not divide, are involved in the aging process, and are resistant to cell death, but are still metabolically active in the human body. When they accumulate, they can jeopardize the patients’ recovery. Now, a UB-led study describes for the first time a molecular mechanism that could drive the design of strategies to eliminate senescent cells in cancer patients.