Dasatinib + Quercetin (D+Q)
Mechanism, regulatory status, and an honest, tiered evidence map.
What it is
Class: Combination senolytic (tyrosine-kinase inhibitor + flavonoid; SCAP-disabling)
Also known as: D+Q, dasatinib and quercetin
Relationship to senescence: Transiently disables senescent-cell anti-apoptotic pathways (SCAPs). Dasatinib targets tyrosine-kinase-dependent survival signals; quercetin affects Bcl-2-family and PI3K/SERPINE nodes. The combination clears a broader range of senescent cell types than either alone in preclinical work.
Regulatory status
Dasatinib is an FDA-approved prescription tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (chronic myeloid leukaemia / Ph+ ALL); quercetin is a dietary flavonoid sold as a supplement. Neither is approved as a senolytic or for any anti-aging, longevity, or healthspan indication. No 'senolytic dose' or cycling schedule is an established clinical regimen.
Mechanism
Intermittent ('hit-and-run') dosing transiently inhibits the pro-survival networks senescent cells depend on, tipping them into apoptosis while sparing normal cells. See /bcl2-bclxl-scaps and /senolytics-vs-senomorphics.
Evidence — Human (open-label pilots)
| Species / population | Small open-label pilots: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=14); diabetic kidney disease (n=9); early-stage Alzheimer's disease (n=5). |
| Exposure, route, schedule | Intermittent oral D+Q, e.g. dasatinib 100 mg/day + quercetin 1000-1250 mg/day for 3 consecutive days (regimen varied by trial). |
| Comparator / duration | Mostly single-arm/open-label; the IPF pilot was described as single-blind placebo-controlled for feasibility. |
| Endpoint / numeric result | Feasibility/tolerability; physical function (IPF); senescent-cell and SASP markers in adipose/skin (DKD); CNS penetration of the drugs (Alzheimer's). |
| What it did NOT establish | No lifespan outcome, no disease-modification proof, no randomized hard clinical endpoint. Pilots are not powered for efficacy. |
Negative or null findings
- The Alzheimer's pilot found cognitive and neuroimaging measures did not significantly change from baseline; quercetin was not detected in cerebrospinal fluid.
- No pilot demonstrated a clinical-outcome benefit; all were explicitly feasibility/biomarker studies.
Studies on this page
- Senolytics in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: first-in-human, open-label pilot (Justice et al., 2019)
- Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: D+Q in diabetic kidney disease (Hickson et al., 2019)
- Senolytic therapy in mild Alzheimer's disease (SToMP-AD): open-label CNS-penetration pilot (Gonzales et al., 2023)