Monday, June 30, 2025 6/30/2025

Using Senolytics to Improve Physical Function in Older Breast Cancer Survivors

Award Number: R21CA277660
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/22/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Using Senolytics to Improve Physical Function in Older Breast Cancer Survivors - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Breast cancer survivors experience steep and rapid declines in physical function within 3 to 12 months after cancer treatment. Cancer treatment impairs cardiovascular, neurologic, and musculoskeletal systems. Normally, these physiologic systems work in concert to enable physical function, and when one system is compromised, other systems compensate. However, when multiple physiologic systems are simultaneously compromised, patients develop impairments in physical function. Breast cancer survivors experience physical functional impairments at an earlier age and 2- to 4-fold more frequently than age-matched persons without cancer. In women over 65, functional decline may have far greater consequences than in younger adults; functional decline in older adults is linked to a loss of independence, disability, and death. No approved mitigating therapies are in place to treat or prevent functional decline. We hypothesize that cancer treatment-related functional decline can be alleviated by targeting fundamental aging processes, such as cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is a state of terminal growth arrest. Senescence results from both natural aging and chemotherapy. Senescent cells (Sncs) secrete proinflammatory factors (senescence-associated secretory phenotype, SASP) that cause tissue damage and age-related dysfunction. In mouse models, Sncs/SASP can be reduced by agents that selectively eliminate Sncs (senolytics). Senolytics alleviate frailty in mice and show promise in humans in multiple ongoing trials; senolytics reduce Snc burden in human fat tissue, decrease inflammation in older patients with diabetes, and reduce frailty in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. However, the ability of senolytics to reduce Sncs/SASP and, ultimately, improve physical function in older breast cancer survivors has not been tested. Our preliminary data provide evidence that older breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy (vs. no chemotherapy) have a higher systemic Snc burden (circulating Sncs/SASP markers) and that physical function and systemic Snc burden are linked. We hypothesize that targeting Sncs with senolytics will improve physical function and reduce systemic Snc burden in chemotherapy-treated older breast cancer survivors. We will test this hypothesis in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of senolytic therapy vs. placebo in older (age >65) breast cancer survivors (n=44) who are 3 to 12 months post-chemotherapy completion and have diminished gait speed. Our specific aims are to determine the effects of senolytic therapy (vs. placebo) on physical function (Aim 1) and systemic Snc burden (Aim 2). This study will provide preliminary evidence for a large multi-center trial to establish the efficacy of senolytics in frail older breast cancer survivors. If successful, this would fill a crucial clinical need, as these women currently have no pharmacological options for the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy- induced functional decline. Moreover, since senescence underlies many of the mid and late-life chronic diseases, a safe senolytic that improves function would have a major positive impact that will extend far beyond oncology.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $13,066 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	2	6/13/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$13,066
														Subtotal = $13,066

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $216,513 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	3	4/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$11,398
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	3	12/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$205,115
														Subtotal = $216,513

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $205,700 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	002	2	9/1/2023	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$139,694
2023	2023	BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE CITY OF HOPE	1500 DUARTE RD	DUARTE	CA	91010	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	1	9/1/2023	NEW	-$139,694
2023	2023	BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE CITY OF HOPE	1500 DUARTE RD	DUARTE	CA	91010	LOS ANGELES	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	12/22/2022	NEW	$205,700
														Subtotal = $205,700

Grand Total All Awards = $435,279

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Using Senolytics to Improve Physical Function in Older Breast Cancer Survivors

Award Number: R21CA277660

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/22/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer