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Published on: April 23, 2018

Insulin in aging and cancer: antidiabetic drug Diabenol as geroprotector and anticarcinogen

Irina G Popovich1, Mark A Zabezhinski, Peter A Egormin

  • 1Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St. Petersburg 197758, Russia.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|March 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The antidiabetic drug Diabenol extended lifespan and reduced tumor incidence in mice. It also inhibited colon carcinogenesis in rats, demonstrating potential anti-cancer properties alongside its diabetes treatment effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Oncology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The novel antidiabetic drug Diabenol's comprehensive effects beyond glycemic control require investigation.
  • Understanding Diabenol's impact on aging, spontaneous tumor development, and chemically induced carcinogenesis is crucial for its therapeutic profile.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of Diabenol on lifespan and spontaneous tumor incidence in NMRI and HER-2/neu mice.
  • To assess Diabenol's efficacy in inhibiting 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of Diabenol to NMRI mice, HER-2/neu mice, and rats exposed to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.
  • Monitoring of lifespan, body weight, food/water consumption, body temperature, estrous function, and tumor incidence/latency.
  • Histopathological analysis of colon tumors in rats.

Main Results:

  • Diabenol increased lifespan in NMRI mice and slowed age-related estrous disturbances in both mouse models.
  • The drug inhibited spontaneous tumor incidence and increased mammary tumor latency in NMRI mice, and reduced lung metastases in HER-2/neu mice.
  • Diabenol significantly inhibited colon tumor multiplicity and carcinoma incidence in rats, promoting well-differentiated tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Diabenol demonstrates significant anti-cancer properties, including increased survival and inhibition of spontaneous carcinogenesis in mice.
  • The drug effectively inhibits colon carcinogenesis in rats, suggesting a broad therapeutic potential.
  • Diabenol warrants further investigation for its dual role in diabetes management and cancer prevention/treatment.

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