Proteomics Approaches to Define Senescence Heterogeneity and Chemotherapy Response.

In primary cells, senescence induces a permanent proliferative arrest to prevent the propagation of malignant cells. However, the outcome of senescence is more complex in advanced cancer cells where senescent states are heterogeneous. Here, we discuss this heterogeneity and propose that proteomic analysis should be used to identify specific signatures of cancer cells that use this pathway as an adaptative mechanism. Since senescent cells produce an inflammatory secretome, MRM approaches and quantification with internal standards might be particularly suited to follow the expression of the corresponding markers in body fluids. Used in combination with imaging medical technics, a better characterization of senescence heterogeneity should help to monitor the response to chemotherapy treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.