Cellular Senescence as a Barrier to Environmental Carcinogenesis

Maria del Mar Vergel and Amanc

Abstract

The first cellular response to a carcinogen is a cell cycle arrest program that may end in a permanent arrest with features of cellular senescence. This may be an evolutionary conserved response to delay environmental-induced cancer until the replicative life of the organism has ended. With the concomitant alteration of genes involved in cellular senescence, which promotes cellular immortalization, a further carcinogenic insult may increase the chances of tumorigenesis and the development of a malignant clone. Therefore, understanding cellular senescence and how it can be modified by environmental carcinogens, including food, may be essential for controlling the increase of cancer prevalence.