Cellular Senescence and Transformation: Unraveling the Biological Links Between Aging and Cancer

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2026

Special Issue Editors

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110167, China
Interests: embryo development; genome editing; epigenetics; cancer; stem cells; somatic cell nuclear transfer; oxidative stress; pig; natural products; phase separation
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Guest Editor
Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
Interests: aging; neurodegenerative diseases; α-synuclein aggregation; phase seperation; non-membraneless organelles; genome editing; animal model

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Guest Editor
College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110167, China
Interests: tyrosine phosphatase; autoimmune diseases; protein interactions; TCR signaling pathway; T cell development; T cell activation; T cell differentiation; inflammation; membrane transport; nuclear transport; cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging and cancer, two complex biological processes, share an intimate and paradoxical relationship. While advanced age is the single greatest risk factor for most cancers, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms driving this connection remain a central question in biomedical research. This interplay involves a delicate balance: hallmarks of aging, such as genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, and cellular senescence, can create a permissive environment for oncogenesis. Conversely, mechanisms that suppress cancer often overlap with those that promote aging.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, comprehensive reviews, communications, and systematic reviews are welcome. Research areas may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Cellular senescence;
  • Aging and cancer;
  • Cellular reprogramming;
  • Gene editing; Epigenetics;
  • Cancer therapy;
  • Oxidative stress;
  • DNA damage response;
  • Metabolism;
  • Immune surveillance;
  • Microenvironment;
  • Protein aggregation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yongye Huang
Dr. Lin Yuan
Dr. Yang Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aging
  • cancer
  • stem cells
  • gene editing
  • oncogene
  • apoptosis
  • targeted therapy
  • epigenetics

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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