According to a recent study published in the British scientific journal Nature, an international team of researchers has made a major breakthrough in the fight against ageing and cancer prevention. Led by scientists from the Duke-NUS School of Medicine in Singapore and Imperial College London, the study demonstrated that blocking a specific protein in the body can extend the lifespan and prevent cancer in mice.
The protein in question, interleukin-11 (IL-11), has been shown to increase with age and contribute to fat accumulation, muscle loss, hair loss, and cancer. In the study, middle-aged mice were injected with a drug that uses an antibody that blocks IL-11. The results were promising: both male and female mice lived up to 25% longer, and the treated animals appeared healthier and more vigorous than untreated mice. What’s more, less than 16% of treated rodents developed tumors, compared to more than 60% in the control group.
“Although our studies were carried out in mice, we are hopeful that these findings are highly relevant to human health, given that we have seen similar effects in studies of human cells and tissues,” said researcher Anissa A. Wijaya, from the Duke-NUS School of Medicine in Singapore. Professor Stuart Cook, an expert in cardiovascular medicine, added: “Our goal is that one day anti-IL-11 therapy will be used as widely as possible, helping people around the world live longer, healthier lives.”
In parallel, Russian scientists are also making progress in the field of cancer prevention: Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced that researchers are finalizing preclinical trials of a cancer vaccine. Currently being tested on mice, the therapeutic vaccine is intended for people who have already been diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer remains one of the world’s leading causes of death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetime. In May, the UK also began clinical trials of a cancer vaccine, signaling a global effort to tackle this devastating disease.
The protein in question, interleukin-11 (IL-11), has been shown to increase with age and contribute to fat accumulation, muscle loss, hair loss, and cancer. In the study, middle-aged mice were injected with a drug that uses an antibody that blocks IL-11. The results were promising: both male and female mice lived up to 25% longer, and the treated animals appeared healthier and more vigorous than untreated mice. What’s more, less than 16% of treated rodents developed tumors, compared to more than 60% in the control group.
“Although our studies were carried out in mice, we are hopeful that these findings are highly relevant to human health, given that we have seen similar effects in studies of human cells and tissues,” said researcher Anissa A. Wijaya, from the Duke-NUS School of Medicine in Singapore. Professor Stuart Cook, an expert in cardiovascular medicine, added: “Our goal is that one day anti-IL-11 therapy will be used as widely as possible, helping people around the world live longer, healthier lives.”
In parallel, Russian scientists are also making progress in the field of cancer prevention: Health Minister Mikhail Murashko announced that researchers are finalizing preclinical trials of a cancer vaccine. Currently being tested on mice, the therapeutic vaccine is intended for people who have already been diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer remains one of the world’s leading causes of death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetime. In May, the UK also began clinical trials of a cancer vaccine, signaling a global effort to tackle this devastating disease.
