Clearing Senescence Boosts Chemotherapy

Nature Cancer has published a study led by Dr. Manuel Serrano chemotherapy-induced senescent tumor cells upregulate PD-L2 to escape immune clearance. In mouse models, an anti-PD-L2 antibody eliminated these “zombie” cells and significantly enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy in melanoma, pancreatic and breast cancer.

These results suggest PD-L2 blockade could serve as an effective adjuvant: removing senescent cells may inhibit tumour regrowth, alleviate immunosuppression in the microenvironment and even mitigate treatment-associated ageing. More broadly, the study underscores the value of pairing cytotoxic therapy with strategies designed to dismantle the senescent niche it creates.

More information: Chemotherapy becomes more efficient when senescent cells are eliminated by immunotherapy