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Cancer: exploiting the weakness of “zombie” cells to better treat tumors
4 mai 2026
By Elodie Vaz | Published on May 4, 2026 | 4 min readIn most cancers, not all tumor cells actively proliferate. A fraction enters senescence, a state of durable arrest of cell division. Often referred to as “zombie” cells, these cells remain metabolically active without multiplying. Long considered beneficial, senescence is indeed one of the mechanisms through which chemotherapy slows tumor growth
By Elodie Vaz | Published on May 4, 2026 |
4 min read
In most cancers, not all tumor cells actively proliferate. A fraction enters senescence, a state of durable arrest of cell division. Often referred to as “zombie” cells, these cells remain metabolically active without multiplying. Long considered beneficial, senescence is indeed one of the mechanisms through which chemotherapy slows tumor growth.
However, this protective status has a downside. Senescent cells secrete a range of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumoral molecules capable of reshaping their microenvironment. They thereby promote the proliferation of neighboring cells, metastasis, and the recruitment of harmful immune cells. They are also involved in age-related conditions such as fibrosis.
In most cancers, not all tumor cells actively proliferate. A fraction enters senescence, a state of durable arrest of cell division. Often referred to as “zombie” cells, these cells remain metabolically active without multiplying. Long considered beneficial, senescence is indeed one of the mechanisms through which chemotherapy slows tumor growth.
However, this protective status has a downside. Senescent cells secrete a range of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumoral molecules capable of reshaping their microenvironment. They thereby promote the proliferation of neighboring cells, metastasis, and the recruitment of harmful immune cells. They are also involved in age-related conditions such as fibrosis.
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Scientific reference
Electrophilic compound screening identifies GPX4-dependent ferroptosis as a senescence vulnerability
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