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Nov 17, 2008 05:14 PM | 30
A new study shows that the cancer drugs imatinib (also known as Gleevec by Novartis) and sunitinib (Sutent, made by Pfizer) halt diabetes in mice.
A team from the University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley-based drug maker Plexxikon found that most of the mice manipulated to have Type 1 diabetes no longer had diabetes symptoms after just a few weeks on either of the two drugs. The researchers, who published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also discovered that daily imitanib treatment delayed when the mice got the disease, if at all. Type 1 diabetes, which usually appears during childhood, is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the pancreas and limits its ability to manufacture insulin, a hormone that helps cells absorb glucose to use as fuel.
Imatibib is used to stop cancer cells from multiplying in leukemia patients, and sunitinib can halt the growth of kidney cancer cells.
When given to mice, the drugs presumably calmed down the animals' over-active immune systems, which then laid off the pancreas.
Jeffrey Bluestone, an immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco who led the research, told ScientificAmerican.com that the therapy might not necessarily work in people. "These are animals studies, and moving from the animal to human is always a challenging and not always a successful transition," he says.
About 15,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes each year, according to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. There is no known cure, but patients can keep it in check with daily insulin injections.
(Image from iStockphoto/JurgaR.)
Tags:
autoimmune disease,
autoimmune,
glucose,
insulin,
diabetes,
drug,
cancer
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30 Comments
Add CommentAs the mother of a 10 year old boy who has had diabetes since he was 13 months old this study has sparked my attention, I know that this is just a test done on mice but before there were inject able insulin's and pills there had to be tests runs and I am sure they used the study in mice as well, so this gives a hopefulness to a cure. I'd imagine that if this medication Gleevec works for leukemia patients that there may be some ties between the two, I am no scientist but maybe there should be some testing with the whole marrow thing since you can give marrow to cure leukemia maybe there is a way that the marrow would help cure diabetics I know that is a shot in the dark but I am only wishing that we could conquer the infamous diabetes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf this regimen is as promising as it seems to be why is it not all over the newspapers, news, etc? My child was diagnosed when he was 7 and is now 17. I want to believe very badly but also don't want to dissappoint him again. We are very active in the JDRF and would like to know if they are involved and have written it up. Is it permanent and why only 80% of 80% which by my calculations is only 64 out of 100. Am I correct?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI would like to know when Human trials will be iniciated. While I am a 21 year old female with Type 1 diabetes, I have two small children that need me as they grow up. I want to be there for them. I do know that the cancer medication may not work on humans, but would love to participate. I live close to USF and have not suffered many ailments associated with the diabetes, but the clock is ticking... christakasson@msn.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThanks!
I'm very hopeful scientists may be on to something here. I'm 32 years old and have had Type 1 diabetes since I was 2 years old. I keep my A1C in good control (5.9 to 6.1 range) and have not yet suffered any of the negative consequences of diabetes..... yet. I am hopeful they can begin testing this on humans very soon !!!! This is encouraging.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was wondering if the mice used in the study were "newly" diagnosed and still had some insulin producing cells or if they had passed the so called honeymoon phase and no longer produced any. My son was diagnosed 5 years ago so I was wondering if this would benefit him.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGreat question& based upon how this article is written one might infer that that the mice somehow were able to "regenerate" islet cells that were destroyed in order for them to become a Type 1 Diabetic?!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGleevec showed an ability to halt type 1 diabetes in cancer patients several years ago. It was first noticed as a side effect.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy oldest son has type 1. He talks about a cult of sickness around diabetes. He is cynical about any cure because of the money involved. This is the first research report which has passed muster with him. Keep in mind these drugs are already on the market. Which will make it theoretically easier for type 1's to find sympathetic practitioners willing to use it in an "off label" fashion. Look for the big money players in diabetes supplies to cry "foul!" as soon as this off-label use starts.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissicne ever scientist have spend thier time and effort trying to solve so many health problems including DM type 1&2. but to hear about a drug to cure this disorder is estonishing knows. but in the other side you speke about drugs therapy in the long run naw that bad knows. due to side effects drugs generally have on the human body (liver, kidenies, haert and spleen). so as i gene scientist i a dvice more molecular level therapy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDon't really understand why a drug that calms down the over active immune system is effective in treating cancer but maybe they should look at this effect to see if it's useful in other autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease, which my son has.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow. I hope this gets into human trials soon - I was diagnosed 6 months ago, and still have a little pancreas function left - around 5%. It's going away quickly, though. I wonder what will happen to us Type 1 folks if this really is a cure, but doesn't work for people who have had the disease for a while? We might end up with an obsolete disease... strange concept.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI contacted Dr. Bluestone about having my daughter in clinical trials when they start on human studies, and was informed by him that this is ONLY for those who are newly diagnosed. The waiting game continues....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisакой же эффект наблюдается и у людей. Например при лечении ранних стадий хронического лимфолейкоза цитостатиками типа Циклофосфамид или Флутар, спровоцированном угрожающими жизни аутоиммунными агрессиями, К сожалению, методика не может быть применена в детородном возрасте.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisТакой же эффект имеется и у людей. Он прояляется при вынужденном лечении ранних стадий хронического лимфолейкоза цитостатиками типа Циклофосфамид или, хуже, Флутар, когда имеется другая, угрожающая жизни аутоиммунная симптоматика. К сожалению, методика неприменима в раннем и детородном возрасте.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am a 36 year old female and have had Type I Diabetes since I was 8 years old. My sporadic bloodsugars have absolutely mystified endocrinologists at UC Davis as well as the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, and many others in between. I am beyond healthy in every other regard and it is a mystery as to why my bloodsugars run back and forth between 40 and 400 daily. Doctors have NEVER been able to help me and can't figure it out. I have been fortunate to have only one complication, and that is Diabetic Retinopathy. I had treatments for it from the time I was 23 tile I was nearly 25. I have lost nearly all of my peripheral vision as a result and have yet to be able to control my bloodsugars. I fear further complications with my eyes, and am terrified of losing my sight. I also fear other complications as well. It's likely a matter of time. I am educated, I have a fantastic career (in the medical field), but there are points in each day where I must stop to treat an insulin reaction, or must take a nap because of a high bloodsugar. I would like to live my life without these obstacles.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY STUDIES DONE ON HUMANS WITH THIS DRUG. PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
My child has had type 1 diabetes for 8 years, and I have prayed for a cure every day since. I've heard horror stories that there is a cure for diabetes, but millions were paid to keep it from being known. Do you really think there are people who would keep it from us just so companies can still make billions from this industry? I shutter to think. Anyone who has a sick child knows that it's like living in a nightmare that you never wake from. I pray this is the cure and that it comes out soon. I also wonder why marrow transplants are not studied.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisОпять паника у американского народа. Не следует наседать на исследователей, которые работают с животными.Кроме того разрабатываются более безопасные протоколы иммунокоррекции автоиммунных заболеваний, а, также, известны причины возникновения устойчивых аутоиммунных процессов. Сейчас отрабатывается безопасная методика надежного устранения этих причин. В случае удачных испытаний методики появятся на рынке.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDoes anyone have an idea of how we become entries for a clinical trial? We cannot let this die because the drug companies are making too much money as things are now.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMark - mlieberman1@charter.net - 508 393 1460
My son (14 yr old) was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic 10 days ago. Would he be a suitable candidate?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi am interested in joining human trials a.s.a.p. I am a husband and father. There are no words to describe the past-due urgency for a cure for this predatory disorder. For once can decency and humanity take priority over greed and wellness rationing? I can be reached at tolyja@msn.com. my name is Tony and I'm willing to travel.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am a husband and father who's primary goal is to provide/protect his family. Given this, I have fought this disorder for 20 years and do offer an appeal to participate in human trials. For once in our lifetime genuine healing needs to take priority over greed and wellness rationing. My online name is health justice and my e-mail address is tolyja@msn.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHonestly, I think people with Type 1 Diabetes and their families, who see the never ending exploitation of the disease need to start running the show. The tail is wagging the dog.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNow we have not one or two, but actually several chemo drugs that have been shown to decrease A1C's, cause hypoglycemia, etc. There are case studies that report these sometimes individual responses.
Just wait. Some doc or nurse with Type 1 is taking Gleevec or Sutent right now. Somebody who is not afraid to take a chance. An adult who is fed up with all the tail-dragging.
Have any of you read the Mexico City research about porcine B-cell transplants? It was reported at a conference in, I think, Florida. The lead researcher, whose name escapes me, was chastised because he hadn't used APE trials first. This is just laughable. I called around and found out there is still research going on with great success but not being reported in the US because the researchers are disgusted with US research criteria.
Is this true? Who knows?
Same with embryonic stem cell research. Great promise, but don't rely on US sources to find out about it. The Christian Coalition stifles both the research and the news.
Come ON!! Get mad! Get phreakin' angry! My son spent almost a week at a Children's Hospital where the "diabetologist" looked me straight in the eye and said there was nothing of promise and no current trials at that facility. At home a week later I found that University had been named a research partner with another well-known University doing B-cell transplants.
Face it. You are just a patient.
Not to be crude, but what did you expect? Dr. Bluestone publishes in an extremely competitive environment. He isn't going to just tell you to go take Gleevec. He will ALWAYS tell you the party line. Not because he is bad, because he is a tremendous person and researcher. But he lives in a world of peer review and Big Pharma. His research reputation depends on step-by-step studies. Not a big "AHA!"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLook, taking a pill for a couple of months could possibly improve/cure/diminish Type 1. Sure, mice are different than humans. But they are similar enough for research.
Don't be discouraged. Write letters. Complain. Whine. Be a pest. DEMAND trials from volunteers. Fight corruption.
I'm 37 years old. I have been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 14. I'm now on an insulin pump. My A1Cs are between 6 and 7. What I want to know is what is the point of publishing these articles and getting our hopes up over and over again? I was put on a waiting list for an islet cell translant. Well, guess what? They lost their funding. Surprised? Come on people. Do you really think the big drug companies that make all of this money off of us really want us to be cured? I don't want to hear anything about a "so-called" cure until it's official. Quit getting our hopes up!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm 37 years old. I have been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 14. I'm now on an insulin pump. My A1Cs are between 6 and 7. What I want to know is what is the point of publishing these articles and getting our hopes up over and over again? I was put on a waiting list for an islet cell translant. Well, guess what? They lost their funding. Surprised? Come on people. Do you really think the big drug companies that make all of this money off of us really want us to be cured? I don't want to hear anything about a "so-called" cure until it's official. Quit getting our hopes up!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishas anyone who is a type 1 diabetic every had cancer, if so was their diabetes cured as a result of the cancer treatment- wouldn't that be an appropriate testing ground for these drugs- why hasn't this been researched- surely ther are some unfortunate folks with diabetes that have also had/have cancer. try a double wammy treatment- two cures for the price of one
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhat ever happened to the jamaican dr who cured 12/13 children of type 1 diabetes by injecting copsaicain extract from hot chili peppers in the pancreas' of diabetic children. Did you read above he did CURE them and poof no more info- what happened????
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswould someone hurry up and cure this disease. i am a type 1 diabetic and have had it since i was 17. i am lucky in that i got it so late in life, but if i could have a dime for every story i have heard about scientist curing the disease in mice i'd be a millionaire. i am sick of hearing about these stories with things never being tried in humans. i really feel this disease will never be cured because there is too much money in the pharmaceutical side of it. they will keep it going as long as they can until people stop putting up with it or someone steps up and does something about it, whether it be a scientist or whoever. i was a hopeful person about a cure but now my hope is starting to diminish. i feel like these mice studies are trying to distract us. i still have not heard of one of the many things that have cured mice of type 1 diabetes ever be tested or help a human. i'm sick, but i'm also sick of the propaganda.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf this is actually tested and is found to work on humans, then curing type I diabetes will be extremely easy. How? Take stem cells, differentiate them into beta cells and implant them while giving this medication combo.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHOWEVER, there is one little problem: the pharmaceutical industry.
Each year, diabetes (type I and II combined) is worth around 90 billion $ in the USA alone. Type I accounts for around 10% of all diabetics, but costs a little more to treat than type II. So let's imagine for an instant, somewhere in the vicinity of 10-20 billion $ a year being spent on type I diabetes in the USA.
Who here really thinks a cure will EVER be available to those actually suffering (like me...).
Not me.
Just wanna be a member of those who focuses on diabetes.
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