Rapamycin extends maximal lifespan in cancer-prone mice

Am J Pathol. 2010 May;176(5):2092-7. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.091050. Epub 2010 Apr 2.

Abstract

Aging is associated with obesity and cancer. Calorie restriction both slows down aging and delays cancer. Evidence has emerged that the nutrient-sensing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is involved in cellular and organismal aging. Here we show that the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prevents age-related weight gain, decreases rate of aging, increases lifespan, and suppresses carcinogenesis in transgenic HER-2/neu cancer-prone mice. Rapamycin dramatically delayed tumor onset as well as decreased the number of tumors per animal and tumor size. We suggest that, by slowing down organismal aging, rapamycin delays cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Homozygote
  • Longevity
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus