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Call for papers - Aging, cellular senescence, and cancer

Guest Editors

Tareq Saleh, PhD, MD, The Hashemite University, Jordan

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 1 May 2025

BMC Cancer is calling for submissions to our Collection on Aging, cellular senescence, and cancer. This Collection seeks to gather cutting-edge research on the intricate relationship among aging, cellular senescence, and cancer. We invite researchers to contribute their work, exploring the molecular mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic opportunities related to senescence in the context of cancer, with the aim of advancing our understanding and improving cancer treatment strategies.


New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Tareq Saleh, MD, PhD, The Hashemite University, Jordan

Tareq Saleh, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The Hashemite University in Jordan. He earned his MD from The Hashemite University and his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr Saleh has extensive research experience, focusing on therapy-induced senescence in cancer therapy. His prolific publication record includes studies on senescence markers in cancer and the use of senolytics. Dr Saleh’s ongoing projects explore innovative cancer treatment strategies and the mitigation of chemotherapy-induced side effects.

About the Collection

Cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest, is critical in both the aging process and cancer development. Recent scientific advancements have shed light on the multifaceted nature of cellular senescence. Initially perceived as an evolutionary mechanism to eliminate damaged cells and thwart malignant transformation, senescence is now recognized for its duality in cancer dynamics. The accumulation of senescent cells, while initially serving as a safeguard against cancer, can engender long-term repercussions, particularly through the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors encapsulated within the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), thereby fostering a conducive milieu for tumorigenesis. Moreover, as organisms age, the accumulation of senescent cells over time can overwhelm the immune system's capacity to clear them, further exacerbating their detrimental effects on tissue function and homeostasis and contributing to tissue dysfunction and overall physiological decline. 

Therefore, understanding the complex interplay of senescence in both cancer and aging contexts remains crucial for developing targeted therapeutic approaches that harness its beneficial aspects while mitigating its deleterious effects and developing interventions to modulate the senescence-associated processes in cancer. This Collection on Cellular senescence, aging, and cancer is interested in the following topics:

  • Senescence-associated secretory (SASP) phenotype in cancer
  • Aging and its impact on cellular senescence
  • Age-related changes in SASP composition and its implications for cancer progression
  • Age-related immune dysfunction and its interaction with senescent cells in cancer
  • Senescence as a mediator of age-related genomic instability in cancer
  • Therapeutic targeting of senescent cells in cancer
  • The role of cellular senescence in tumor dormancy and recurrence
  • Senescence evasion mechanisms in cancer cells
  • Cellular senescence in the context of cancer immunotherapy
  • Senescence as a driver of therapy resistance in cancer
  • The interplay between senescence and cancer stem cells
  • Senescence-induced alterations in the tumor microenvironment
  • Strategies to modulate the SASP phenotype for cancer therapy 


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There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Aging, cellular senescence, and cancer from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.