Scientists: Chemotherapy leads to activation of dormant cancer cells

The use of chemotherapy in the fight against malignant cancer cells can lead to the spread of cancer from the primary tumor site to distant organs due to the awakening of dormant cancer cells. Currently, based on the conducted research, a clinical trial has been initiated, the purpose of which is to evaluate the safety of simultaneous use of senolytics (dasatinib and quercetin) with chemotherapy, particularly in the treatment of breast cancer. Chemotherapy causes senescence - accelerated aging, in which cells stop reproducing and release chemicals that cause inflammation - in special connective tissue called fibroblasts. Researchers found that the combination of senolytic drugs, which destroy aging cells, with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin reduced the number of aging fibroblasts in the lungs of mice.