Amino acid metabolism at the senescence–cancer interface
Senescent cells exhibit diffuse metabolic alterations and selective dependencies on specific amino acids, driven by increased demands for redox homeostasis, protein turnover, and biosynthesis of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
Amino acid metabolism rewiring has a dual role in cancer: promoting tumor progression via stromal senescence while counteracting tumor growth through the induction of cancer cell senescence.
Dysregulated amino acid metabolism in senescent cells promotes immune evasion, creating a permissive environment for malignant progression.
Amino acid-driven metabolic changes in stromal senescent cells facilitate premetastatic niche formation, supporting the colonization and reawakening of dormant disseminated tumor cells.
Targeting senescent cells’ metabolic vulnerabilities offers a promising strategy to enhance cancer therapy and overcome immune suppression.
https://www.cell.com/trends/cancer/fulltext/S2405-8033(26)00083-X
