A group of South Korean scientists says it has found a way to identify senescent cancer cells and opened a way to develop a more effective treatment with fewer side effects.

The group, led by Lee Jae-seon of the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, says it has found two proteins which can effectively identify aging cells in breast, lung and large intestine cancer cells.

Using the proteins as biomarkers, it is possible to distinguish whether a cancer cell is in senescence. Therefore, it will be possible to reduce the intensity of radiation or chemotherapy treatments for those cells.

Lee's findings are published in the recent issue of the journal Cancer Research of the American Association of Cancer Research.