Abstract

Senescent cancer cells contribute to tumor refractoriness. The removal of senescent cells after chemotherapy prevents or delays cancer relapse. Our study showed that GL-V9 (5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2-phenyl-7-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl) butoxy)-4-H-chromen-4-one), a potential anticancer drug, eliminated senescent MEFs (Mouse embryonic fibroblasts) and drug-induced senescent breast cancer cells. GL-V9 induced apoptosis in senescent MDA-MB-231 cells. Mechanistically, it alkalized lysosomes and increased the abundance of mitochondria as well as ROS (Reactive oxygen species). The senolytic effect of GL-V9 was also observed in epirubicin-treated mammary tumors in MMTV-PyMT mice. Our data thus indicated that GL-V9 is a promising senolytic drug which could be used to improve the outcome of cancer chemotherapy.