Figure 2.

Clinical applications of SA-β-gal detection. SA-β-gal activity is the result of overexpression of GLB1 gene. Normally, oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) prevents cells from becoming tumors. This state can be artificially summoned in order to stop cancer growth (therapy-induced senescence, TIS). Cells accumulate SA-β-gal and acquire senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Such cells do not proliferate but produce and extract signaling molecules forcing surrounding cells into malignant transformation. Finally, some tumors and precancerous lesions have high levels of SA-β-gal, making it a potential prognostic marker and a detection probe.