ABSTRACT
Cellular senescence and malignant transformation share certain basic pathways. In fact, molecular biologists examining genes that control cellular proliferation and cell death have discovered that mutations or alterations in function of some of these genes can result in immortalized cells with malignant properties (i.e. growth factorindependent proliferation and invasiveness). Thus, at the cellular level, aging and cancer can be considered distinct steps on a spectrum of cell behavior. Recently, there has been an increased awareness of this paradigm, and basic scientists in aging and cancer are opening a dialogue that has been mutually beneficial.
