Cancer drug also reverses Alzheimer's disease in mice: Hope for humans?

CBS News ^ | 02/17/2012 | Ryan Jaslow

[SeekAndFind]

A new study of a promising Alzheimer's treatment has doctors buzzing that the drug may reverse the deadly neurodegenerative disease. But the new treatment isn't a new drug at all, rather a skin cancer pill that's been FDA-approved for more than a decade.

The drug, bexarotene, reversed signs of Alzheimer's in mice brains and also improved their memory in as little as 72 hours, according to the study.

"This is an unprecedented finding," study author Paige Cramer, a PhD candidate at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, said in a university written statement. "Previously, the best existing treatment for Alzheimer's disease in mice required several months to reduce plaque in the brain."

Bexarotene - sold under the brand name Targretin - was approved by the FDA in 1999 for treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells that primarily affects the skin. But the drug also happens to switch on a gene that makes a naturally occurring protein in the brain called Apolipoprotein E, or ApoE.

Previous research by study co-author Dr. Gary Landreth, a professor of neurosciences at Case Western Reserve, showed that ApoE could help facilitate the removal of amyloid beta proteins, which are a toxic substance in the brain that causes plaque buildup that's a marker for Alzheimer's

Dr. Landreth and his grad student, Cramer, thought if they could use this drug to increase ApoE, then maybe they could reduce some of the plaques in mice that were genetically bred to have Alzheimer's. The researchers found that the drug caused a 50 percent reduction in the amount of amyloid plaques within only three days, and after 14 days, they saw a 75 percent reduction. The drug essentially "reprogrammed" the brain's immune cells to "eat" the amyloid plaques.

[SeekAndFind]

For those who can read the ABSTRACT of the study, here is the link:

ABSTRACT:

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Alzheimer's disease is associated with impaired clearance of β-amyloid from the brain, a process normally facilitated by apolipoprotein E (ApoE). ApoE expression is transcriptionally induced through the action of the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ) and liver X receptors (LXR) in coordination with retinoid X receptors (RXR). Oral administration of the RXR agonist, bexarotene, to a murine model of Alzheimer's disease resulted in enhanced clearance of soluble Aβ within hours in an apoE-dependent manner.

Aβ plaque area was reduced >50% within just 72 hours. Furthermore, bexarotene stimulated the rapid reversal of cognitive, social, and olfactory deficits and improved neural circuit function. Thus, RXR activation stimulates physiological Aβ clearance mechanisms, resulting in the very rapid reversal of a broad range of Aβ-induced deficits.

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THE USUAL CAVEAT: MICE ARE NOT PEOPLE.

[SeekAndFind]

There is a video of an interview with the research team. Click this link and scroll down to watch.

[apillar]

Great news! My pet mouse has been very forgetful lately. But seriously, a Doctor friend of mind told me several years ago that he over 90% certain Alzheimer's would be cured by 2020. I looks like he may have been right (that's if Obamacare will pay for the cure).

[Boogieman]

Ok, but before we roll this out on humans, let’s wait six months and make sure the mice don’t become super-intelligent and highly aggressive, and lead a rebellion against their captors.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Ok, but before we roll this out on humans, let’s wait six months and make sure the mice don’t become super-intelligent and highly aggressive, and lead a rebellion against their captors.

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What could go wrong?

[aimhigh]

How do I invest?

[Scythian]

Interesting on the warnings ... Targretin = (Bexarotene)

Bexarotene may be harmful if it gets on the skin. Do not touch the capsules or powder from the capsules if they are broken or leaking. If the powder from a broken capsule gets on your skin, wash the area with soap and water immediately and call your doctor.

Wow, some nasty crap ...

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

THE USUAL CAVEAT: MICE ARE NOT PEOPLE.

No, but Soylent Green is...

[righttackle44]

Is there an interview with any of the mice? Uh. . . I forgot what I was going to say.

[CurlyDave]

In the US, the patent on this drug expires in 2016.

If it really works in humans, it will be cheap as well as a breakthrough. OTOH, without someone standing to make a huge profit, it is hard to envision any company funding the research necessary.

[blueunicorn6]

It works for mouse brains? Oh, another drug for the Democrats.

[blueunicorn6]

What the heck has a mouse got to remember?

“Oh, what’s my pin number again? Honey, what’s my pin number? I’m trying to get cash for the weekend.”