Standard treatment for childhood BRAF-V600E brain tumors causes cell aging and makes tumors more sensitive to BCL-xL blocking

Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) may be involved in treatment response and relapse in children with BRAF-V600E glioma.

• TIS can result from chemo-, radio-, and targeted therapies, leading to a stable growth arrest of tumors.
• Children with BRAF-V600E brain tumors often respond initially well to low-dose chemotherapies and MAPK inhibitors.
• Despite initial responses, most patients experience tumor regrowth after treatment is stopped.
• Senolytic compounds that target and eliminate senescent cells may have therapeutic potential in treating these tumors.
• The study explores how TIS contributes to treatment outcomes and the possibility of using senolytics in pediatric glioma models.

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