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Updated: May 17, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
14:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

Rapamycin extends lifespan and delays tumorigenesis in heterozygous p53+/- mice

Elena A Komarova1, Marina P Antoch, Liliya R Novototskaya

  • 1Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.

Aging
|November 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Rapamycin, a drug that inhibits the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway, extended the lifespan of mice with a heterozygous p53 gene mutation. This intervention also reduced spontaneous tumor incidence, suggesting potential benefits for Li-Fraumeni syndrome patients.

Area of Science:

  • Aging research
  • Cancer biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway is implicated in aging.
  • p53 protein can inhibit the mTOR pathway.
  • Mice with one copy of p53 (p53+/-) exhibit increased cancer and shorter lifespans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if rapamycin can delay cancer in heterozygous p53+/- mice.
  • To determine the effect of rapamycin on lifespan and tumor incidence in p53+/- mice.

Main Methods:

  • Rapamycin was administered to p53+/- mice via drinking water.
  • Lifespan and spontaneous tumor incidence were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Rapamycin extended the mean lifespan of p53+/- mice by 10%.
  • Early-life rapamycin treatment (before 5 months) extended lifespan by 28%.
  • Rapamycin significantly decreased the incidence of spontaneous tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Rapamycin can delay aging and reduce cancer incidence in p53+/- mice.
  • These findings suggest rapamycin as a potential therapeutic strategy for Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

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