Chemotherapy and radiation reduce tumor burden but leave behind residual cells that survive via therapy-induced senescence (TIS). These cells constitute a latent reservoir fueling recurrence, yet strategies for their selective elimination are lacking. Here, we identify lysosomal ferrous iron accumulation as a conserved hallmark and actionable vulnerability of TIS tumor cells. Across diverse models, senescent tumor cells exhibit marked hypersensitivity to ferroptosis induction. In breast cancer PDX models, sequential ferroptosis induction following chemotherapy significantly delays recurrence, while dual inhibition of GPX4 and FSP1 produces durable, often complete, eradication of residual tumors without overt toxicity. Mechanistically, activation of the TFEB-HO-1 axis in TIS tumor cells drives ferrous iron accumulation, thereby priming cells for ferroptosis. Together, these findings establish ferrous iron accumulation as a defining feature of TIS and position ferroptosis induction as a potent senolytic strategy to eliminate therapy-refractory residual disease.
Wang, Z., Liu, Y., Hassanain, H. S., Ding, Y., Zhao, S., Azizian, N., Gong, Y., Chan, K. S., Chang, J. C., Pegram, M. D., Li, Y.
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