A population of BJ fibroblasts escaped from Ras-induced senescence susceptible to transformation

► We found that a population of the human diploid fibroblasts can escape from Ras-induced senescence. ► Senescence-escaped cells lost p16 expression but did not exhibit the transforming potential. ► Disruption of p53 and Rb provided the transforming potential of senescence-escaped cells. ► Transformed senescence-escaped cells were highly aneuploid. ► Senescence-escaped cells were positive for Oct3/4, SOX2 and Nanog.