REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Dual Roles of Immunosenescence in Cancer Immunotherapy
ye yu 1
LEI SUN 2
Fan Jiawei 2
1. West China Fourth Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
2. Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
Cellular senescence of tumor-infiltrating immune cells represents a hallmark of tumorigenesis, characterized by functional decline and severely compromised anti-tumor immunity. A growing body of evidence indicates that immunosenescence is not only a significant biological phenomenon within the tumor microenvironment (TME) but also serves as a therapeutic target with dual regulatory potential. Previous reviews have thoroughly examined the biomarkers associated with immunosenescence and its overarching impact on aging and disease. Nonetheless, comprehensive analyses of its specific and dual roles in cancer immunotherapy outcomes are still lacking. Consequently, a novel paradigm has been proposed for targeting immunosenescence: modulating the function of senescent immune cells may offer innovative cancer treatment strategies. This review synthesizes the bidirectional relationship between immune cell senescence and tumor progression, systematically examining the interactions between senescent immune cells and tumor advancement, and underscores the key molecular mechanisms driving immune senescence within the TME. By elucidating the characteristics and functions of immune cell senescence in tumor development and immune evasion, we aim to uncover new therapeutic perspectives and highlight potential targets for cancer immunotherapy.
Summary
Keywords
cancer immunotherapy, immune cell, immunosenescence, senescence, TME (tumor microenvironment)
Received
01 January 2026
Accepted
18 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 yu, SUN and Jiawei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Fan Jiawei
Disclaimer
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