Dasatinib is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor originally developed to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In recent years, dasatinib has gained attention as a senolytic agent for longevity applications, typically used in combination with quercetin to selectively eliminate senescent cells that accumulate with aging.
Dasatinib functions as a senolytic by targeting multiple kinase pathways that senescent cells rely on for survival. When combined with quercetin, it creates a powerful senolytic cocktail that can selectively induce apoptosis in senescent cells while sparing healthy cells. This mechanism makes it a promising intervention for age-related diseases and potentially extending healthspan.