A Role for CXCR2 in Senescence, but What about in Cancer? Available to Purchase

Senescence is an irreversible arrest triggered by stresses such as telomere shortening, DNA damage, or oncogenic signaling. Oncogene-induced senescence occurs in preneoplastic lesions, but it is absent from full-blown malignancies suggesting a tumor suppressor function. We recently found that depletion of the receptor CXCR2 [which binds to chemokines such as interleukin (IL)-8 or GROα] delays both replicative senescence and impairs the senescence response to oncogenic signals. Our findings suggest that signaling by IL-8 and GROα might limit tumor growth by reinforcing senescence early in tumorigenesis. The challenge remains in how to integrate this with the well-known tumor promoting effects of IL-8 and GROα. [Cancer Res 2009;69(6):2167–70]