Enhanced survival rates observed in mice treated with a combination of cancer therapy drugs, amounting to a 30% life extension – the potential impact for human anti-aging, however, remains unclear.
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Aging reveals that a cocktail of two FDA-approved cancer drugs, trametinib and rapamycin, may extend the lifespan of mice by up to 30%. Remarkably, when administered individually, each drug has been proven to prolong mouse lifespan, but the combination offers even greater benefits.
Researchers from University College London and the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing combined the drugs in a mouse study, finding that, separately, rapamycin increased lifespan by 15% to 20%, while trametinib added around 5% to 10%. However, the synergistic effects of these drugs showed a cumulative increase of up to 29% when used together.
The drugs work by targeting critical cell communication pathways involved in aging and disease development. Rapamycin inhibits the mTOR protein, which regulates cell division and death, while trametinib disrupts the RAS/Mek/Erk pathway, known to play a role in cancer cell proliferation. These findings point to the potential of these drugs in delaying the onset of age-related diseases and improving the health of older individuals.
The team took tissue samples from the mice and analyzed gene activity to explore the biochemical underpinnings of the observed effects. They discovered a distinct pattern of gene expression when both drugs were administered in combination, suggesting a unique mechanism of action for the drug cocktail.
According to the researchers, trametinib, in combination with rapamycin, is a promising candidate for future clinical trials as a geroprotector, a class of drugs aimed at delaying the onset of diseases and improving the health of the elderly. The next steps involve optimizing dosing and administration methods for trametinib to minimize side effects and progress towards human clinical trials.
While the study's findings are encouraging, the complexities of human aging make it imperative to continue research to determine the potential benefits for human healthspan and lifespan. The future holds great promise for these drugs and the possibility they offer for healthier, longer lives.
The study, published in Nature Aging, indicates that the combination of trametinib and rapamycin, both FDA-approved drugs, could potentially improve health-and-wellness for older individuals by delaying the onset of age-related medical-conditions like cancer. By targeting critical cell communication pathways associated with aging and disease development, these drugs could play a role in mitigating the effects of aging and offering a potential solution for healthier, longer lives.
