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Quantitative Identification of Senescent Cells in Cancer

Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 1884)

Abstract

Cellular senescence, a state of permanent growth arrest, is an important mechanism preventing the propagation of damaged cells. It suppresses cancer development in premalignant lesions in response to activated oncogenes and in tumors following therapy. The presence of senescent cells in premalignant lesions and tumors is controlled by the immune system. The ability to identify and quantify senescent cells more efficiently in vivo is necessary in order to evaluate the effect of these cells on tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. Through combining senescent-associated beta-galactosidase staining with ImageStream X analysis, we have developed an effective method to identify and quantify senescent cancer cells in vivo.

Key words

Cellular senescence ImageStream X Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase Cancer Premalignant lesion 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants to V.K. from the European Research Council under the European Union’s FP7 and from the Israel Science Foundation; and staff scientist internal grant from the Weizmann Institute of Science to Z.P. V.K. is an incumbent of the Karl and Frances Korn Career Development Chair in Life Sciences.

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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Molecular Cell BiologyWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
  2. 2.Flow Cytometry Unit, Life Sciences Core FacilitiesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael

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