The H-Ras-Induced Stasis in Non-Proliferating HMEC/hTERT Cells is Not Senescence.

Abstract

The expression of oncogenic Ras has been known to produce a wide variety of stress responses within cells, including apoptosis and senescence. While particular responses may vary through a stimuli- and tissue-dependant context, each is intended to reverse or slow the progress of tumor development. We have previously identified a new stress response that demonstrates a morphology similar to autophagy, characterized by extensive vacuolization and mitotic arrest. In this report, we show that this arrest lacks the hallmarks of senescence and may instead be a novel oncogene-induced antiproliferative response.