New Research Suggests Cancer Drugs May Help Alzheimer’s Patients

Recent research indicates that two cancer medications might slow down or even reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) delved into how dementia influences gene expression, essentially turning genes on or off, as stated in a university press release.

They explored whether any already approved drugs by the FDA could potentially mitigate or even reverse these gene changes associated with dementia. In their investigation, which analyzed millions of electronic medical records from adults aged 65 and older, the researchers found two specific drugs that seemed to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s in patients who had used them.

The drugs identified—Retrozone and Irinotecan—are typically used for cancer treatment. Retrozone is associated with breast cancer, while Irinotecan is used for colon and lung cancers.

Through tests on mice, scientists observed that these drugs could reverse some of the gene expression changes instigated by Alzheimer’s. They also noted a decrease in tau protein mass in the brain, which is a significant marker for Alzheimer’s, along with enhancements in learning and memory.

Dr. Marina Sirota, interim director of UCSF Bakar Computing Health Science Institute, expressed enthusiasm about the findings. “Alzheimer’s disease has brought about complex brain changes that complicate study and treatment, but our calculations suggest promising pathways,” she mentioned in the release.

While the initial results seem encouraging, researchers acknowledged several limitations. One key point was that the database they relied upon stemmed from cancer cells, not brain cells. They also emphasized that animal models might not fully represent human biological responses.

Interestingly, the study found that male mice showed a better therapeutic response compared to females, leading researchers to speculate about potential gender differences in drug efficacy. “Letrozole may influence this divergence due to its role as a hormone modulator,” they noted, though the findings remain inconclusive due to the small number of male letrozole users.

Looking to the future, researchers plan to conduct clinical trials to further explore the effects of drug combinations on human patients suffering from Alzheimer’s. “If other independent data sources corroborate our findings, we could be onto a significant breakthrough,” Dr. Sirota added.

Currently, there are only two FDA-approved drugs aimed at modifying the course of Alzheimer’s disease: Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla), both of which are given via intravenous infusion. Although they slow amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain, these treatments are only effective in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and may have serious side effects.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that over 7 million people in the United States currently live with Alzheimer’s, a number projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. Amid these statistics, the hope remains that ongoing research could lead to viable solutions for Alzheimer’s patients in the near future.