A silent enemy lurks in our body: senescent cells. They are not simply old cells, but prematurely “aged” cells that, like zombies, release harmful signals to healthy tissues, promoting inflammation and dysfunctions typical of aging. The hope of solving the "problem" comes from research: the breast therapy, an emerging branch of medicine, aims to counter this enemy with targeted drugs, i senolytics. These “smart” drugs can recognize and destroy senescent cells, restoring tissue health and slowing age-related decline.
Breast therapy, the paths open so far
Studies on the effects of old age have led to the start of numerous ongoing clinical trials, which are evaluating the effectiveness of senolytics in the treatment of various pathologies linked to ageing, from diabetic maculopathy to pulmonary fibrosis and Alzheimer's. An example of an ongoing clinical study is the phase 2B trial promoted by Unity Biotechnology for the treatment of diabetic maculopathy (DME) with the senolytic UBX1325. This study (here you will find more details) has already demonstrated promising results in phase 1, with significant improvement in vision in patients treated with UBX1325.
Another example is the Translational Geroscience Network, which conducts several phase 1 and phase 2 trials to test the use of sanolytics such as Dasatinib, Quercetin and Fisetin in the treatment of various pathologies, including sepsis, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary fibrosis and Alzheimer's.
In terms of the general approach, a study published in Nature Aging (I link it here) highlighted the importance of a better understanding of the diversity of senescent cells for the development of effective sanolytics. The study identified several subpopulations of senescent cells with distinctive characteristics and functions. Yes, why the challenge is complex: Senescent cells are different from each other and their response to drugs can vary depending on the type of cell, the tissue in which they are found and the context in which they have "aged".
The prospects for the future
Despite the challenges, breast therapy holds important promise for the future of medicine. If senolytics prove effective and safe, they could have a gigantic impact on our health and life expectancy. Here are some examples of how breast therapy could be used in the future:
- Prevention of age-related diseases: Senolytics could be used to prevent the onset of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes and heart disease.
- Treatment of age-related diseases: Senolytics could be used to treat age-related diseases that are already underway.
- Improved health and function of the elderly: Senolytics could be used to improve the health and functionality of older adults, making them more active and independent.
Breast therapy is still in its infancy, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we age. If senolytics prove effective and safe, they could give us a longer, healthier and happier life.
To know more, I'll point out some resources that might interest you. I hope they provide you an informative and comprehensive picture of breast therapy and its potential for the future of medicine:
- The “longevity” tag on Futuroprossimo, which collects many articles on the topic.
- The Senolytic Initiative: https://www.sens.org/
- Mayo Clinic on Senolytics: https://mayoclinic.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/senolytic-drugs-from-discovery-to-translation
- An article from “Fight Aging!” about breast therapy: you find it here.
- An interesting book by Aubrey de Grey: “The End of Aging”: you find it here.
