(2010) Metformin extends life span of HER-2/neu transgenic mice and in combination with melatonin inhibits growth of transplantable tumors in vivo, Cell Cycle, 9:1,[188][189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197]

No abstract

Studies in mammals have led to the suggestion that hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are important factors both in aging and in the development of cancer. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling molecules linked to longevity include DAF-2 and insulin receptor (InR) and their homologues in mammals and to inactivation of the corresponding genes followed by increased life span in nematodes, fruit flies, and mice. It is possible that the life-prolonging effect of caloric restriction are due to decreasing IGF-1 levels. A search of pharmacological modulators of life span-extending mutations in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway and mimetics of effects of caloric restriction could be a direction in the regulation of longevity. Some literature and our own observations suggest that antidiabetic drugs could be promising candidates for both life span extension and prevention of cancer.

Background: Caloric restriction (CR) is the only treatment known to substantially prolong both average and maximal life span in experimental animals. Interventions that mimic certain effects of CR could be potential anti-aging treatments in humans. Drugs which reduce appetite (anorexiants) represent one class of candidate treatments. Agents that reduce the glucose utilization by the organism could also represent another class of candidate CR mimetics. Objective: In our study, we addressed the following questions: (1) Does treatment with an anorexiant reduce caloric intake and body weight of experimental animals comparable to that caused by CR? (2) Does treatment with an antidiabetic agent influence caloric intake and body weight? (3) Does treatment with any of these drugs affect metabolic parameters of an organism in the way similar to that observed with CR? Methods: One hundred and twenty 6-month-old female Wistar-derived LIO rats were randomly subdivided into four groups and exposed to: (1) ad libitum feeding with placebo (controls); (2) the antidiabetic drug phenformin (2 mg/kg); (3) the anorectic drug phentermine (1 mg/kg), and (4) the same amount of food as the group with the least food intake during the previous week (pair-fed controls). Food and water intake, body weight, and rectal temperature were measured weekly during 16 weeks. At the end of the 16th week of the experiment, serum levels of glucose, total β-lipoprotein and pre-β-lipoprotein fractions, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, total triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine were estimated. The contents of diene conjugates and Schiff’s bases, total antioxidant activity, the activities of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were studied in brain and liver homogenates and in the serum. Results: The controls exposed to pair feeding had a significantly reduced food consumption (about 20%) as compared with the ad libitum fed controls and thus exhibited a moderate CR. Treatment with phentermine reduced the caloric intake by about 12% as compared with the ad libitum fed controls. Body weight and water intake in this group were only slightly decreased (by about 2 and 5%, respectively) as compared with the controls. The mean rectal temperature in the phentermine group (38°C) was significantly higher than in the ad libitum fed (37.8°C) and pair-fed (37.6°C) controls. Treatment with phentermine also resulted in significantly reduced ROS levels in all tissues studied, while the highest ROS production was found in ad libitum (blood serum) and pair-fed (brain) controls. Treatment with phenformin did not significantly influence food and water consumption, body weight, and temperature when compared with the ad libitum fed controls. Rats treated with this antidiabetic drug showed intermediate values of ROS generation. Differences among the groups in total antioxidant activity were not obvious. Conclusions: Treatment with phentermine reduces caloric intake slightly le...

Effects of long-term application of novel polyphenolic composition BP-C3, containing polyphenolic benzenepolycarboxylic acids, vitamins and minerals on some biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumorigenesis has been studied in female SHR mice. Administration of BP-C3 with drinking water (0.005%) did not exert any toxic effect (did not have effect on general condition of animals, weight dynamics and consumption of food), postponed age-related switch-off of estrous function, caused slight reduction of body temperature. An increased survival was observed in mice treated with BP-C3 (p=0.00164, log rank test). BP-C3 increased mean lifespan – by 8.4%, lifespan of the last 10% of animals – by 12.4%, and life span of tumor-free mice – by 11.6%. A tendency in ability of BP-C3 to inhibit development of spontaneous tumors in mice was detected, though it did not reach the level of statistical significance (p=0.166, log rank test). The number of malignant mammary tumors was 1.5 times less and total number of tumors of various localizations was 1.6 times less in BP-C3 treated animals. Multiple tumors were registered in 8% of mice in the control group and no cases – in BP-C3 treated group. Thus, BP-C3 demonstrated some anti-carcinogenic and a pronounced geroprotective activity.

Based on more than 30 years of experience in the field, the authors believe that the standard testing protocols for antiaging drugs should include the simultaneous evaluation of the drug's safety, as well as its antitumor and anticarcinogenic activity potential. The authors also believe that the principles of international programs for the expert critical evaluation of pharmacological interventions should be created to improve the range of antiaging interventions available for human studies.

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The antitumor activity of the antifibrinolytic drug ε-aminocaproic acid (ACC) in the therapeutic form (5% ACC solution in physiological solution instead of drinking water) was studied in the ascitic and solid Ehrlich tumor. ACC did not affect the growth of ascitic, as well as a solid Ehrlich tumor, when the drug was administered 72 hours after the tumor inoculation. At the same time, when it was administered 7 days after tumor inoculation, the drug had a statistically significant antitumor effect on the tumor nodes formed (8-10 mm in diameter). ACC antitumor effect allows to assume that it influences tumor stroma rather than the parenchyma. This effect is not fully understood and needs further study.