CDKN2A and cancer: Interestingly however, is the fact that studies have noted that senescence triggered by oncogenic RAS is associated with accumulation of p16 and p53—explaining the selective mutations of these genes in cancers.36 Senescence is fast becoming a trending target in cancer studies due to its potency and with this, an interesting question arises: what is it that allows the premalignant cells to escape senescence and progress to cancers?