Solutions for Cellular Senescence and Tumor Progression

Relying on the technology platform of the tumor microenvironment center, Alfa Cytology provides provides solutions and services to clients worldwide to study the relationship between cellular senescence and tumor progression and its molecular mechanisms, helping researchers successfully achieve their research goals.

Introduction

Cellular senescence is a relatively stable state after the cell is out of the cell cycle due to extrinsic tumor microenvironment changes and intrinsic gene expression dysregulation, which is irreversible. Senescent cells cannot proliferate, but possess metabolic activity. Tumorigenesis is closely related to cellular senescence. Cellular senescence, together with DNA repair and apoptosis, are called the 3 lines of defense against tumorigenesis. Not only the expression of many genes in senescent cells is changed, but also this change is closely related to tumorigenesis and proliferation. By studying cellular senescence and infinite proliferation and tumor migration, the biological basis of the process from youth to senescence / regulation / infinite proliferation of normal human cells is revealed. It provides a theoretical basis to better determine the role of cellular senescence in tumorigenesis, and may also provide a new idea for tumor suppression.

Fig. 1 Dual role of senescence in tumorigenesis. (Ou HL, et al., 2021)

Solutions

It has been shown in many studies that senescence can stop the proliferation of precancerous cells and inhibit tumorigenesis. However, at the same time, it also facilitates a pro-tumor microenvironment for cancer development, migration and metastasis. Current molecular mechanisms regarding the causes, effector pathways and cellular characteristics of senescence, and how the senescence response affects tumors are unclear.

Alfa Cytology has established an innovative tumor microenvironment center technology platform and is developing several technologies to help global collaborators explore the role and significance of senescent cells on tumors and their microenvironment in an attempt to elucidate the relationship between human cellular senescence and tumorigenesis and progression, and to provide a new basis for designing more effective cancer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Key technologies

• Flow cytometry combined with histological or cytochemical methods

The combination of these techniques enhances the accurate detection and quantification of senescent cells in vivo.

• Fluorescent sensors

OFF-ON NIR and two-photon fluorescent probes enable precise detection and tracking of senescent cells throughout the animal without causing significant cytotoxicity problems.

• Positron emission tomography sensors

The use of PET probes to detect senescent cells will provide a non-invasive method for detecting OIS and TIS, as well as traditional cross-sectional imaging of tumors.

• Senescence detection in liquid biopsies

Although the detection of senescent cells by liquid biopsy is still in its infancy, we are working hard to overcome the difficulties and try to explore further in translational clinical studies in cancer patients.

• Nanoparticle-based imaging for targeted delivery of contrast agents

Alfa Cytology is committed to supporting scientists in making breakthrough scientific discoveries and developing new applications to accelerate new drug discovery and scientific diagnosis and treatment. Our high-performance scientific instruments and high-value solutions enable scientists to explore the mysteries of life at the tumor microenvironment level. Please tell us your project requirements, and we will provide you with a full service from solution to report. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Ou HL, Hoffmann R, González-López C, Doherty GJ, Korkola JE, Muñoz-Espín D. Cellular senescence in cancer: from mechanisms to detection. Mol Oncol. 2021 Oct;15(10):2634-2671.

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.