Cellular senescence and metabolic reprogramming: Unraveling the intricate crosstalk in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Abstract The intrinsic oncogenic mechanisms and properties of the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been extensively investigated. Primary features of the TME include metabolic reprogramming, hypoxia, chronic inflammation, and tumor immunosuppression. Previous studies suggest that senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes that mediate intercellular information exchange play a role in the dynamic evolution of the TME. Specifically, hypoxic adaptation, metabolic dysregulation, and phenotypic shifts in immune cells regulated by cellular senescence synergistically contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment and chronic inflammation, thereby promoting the progression of tumor events. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the processes by which cellular senescence regulates the dynamic evolution of the tumor‐adapted TME, with focus on the complex mechanisms underlying the relationship between senescence and changes in the biological functions of tumor cells. The available findings suggest that components of the TME collectively contribute to the progression of tumor events. The potential applications and challenges of targeted cellular senescence‐based and combination therapies in clinical settings are further discussed within the context of advancing cellular senescence‐related research.

Keywords

• cellular senescence
• metabolic reprogramming
• hypoxia
• chronic inflammation
• immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment
• tumor‐targeted therapy