
Published single-cell RNA sequencing datasets of different cancer entities were analyzed for cell-specific senescence, before generating a pan-cancer endothelial senescence-related transcriptomic signature termed EC.SENESCENCE.SIG.

We therefore hypothesize that senescence of tumor endothelial cells (TEC) represents a promising target for survival prognostication and prediction of immunotherapy efficacy in precision oncology.

In particular, tumor endothelial cells have been reported to acquire a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which is characterized by a pro-inflammatory transcriptional program, eventually promoting tumor growth and formation of distant metastases. Recently, cellular senescence emerged as a fundamental characteristic of solid malignancies. The microvascular endothelium inherently controls nutrient delivery, oxygen supply, and immune surveillance of malignant tumors, thus representing both biological prerequisite and therapeutic vulnerability in cancer.
