Revitalizing Cancer Treatment: Exploring the Role of Drug Repurposing
by
, , and
RamaRao Malla
1,*,†,
Sathiyapriya Viswanathan
2,†,
Sree Makena
3,
Shruti Kapoor
4,
Deepak Verma
5
,
Alluri Ashok Raju
6,
Manikantha Dunna
7 and
Nethaji Muniraj
8,*
1
Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam 530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
2
Department of Biochemistry, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai 600007, Tamil Nadu, India
3
Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Vizianagaram 535217, Andhra Pradesh, India
4
Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
5
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
6
Medicover Hospitals, Visakhapatnam 530022, Andhra Pradesh, India
7
Center for Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad 500085, Telangana, India
8
Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital, 111, Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Cancers 2024, 16(8), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16081463
Submission received: 2 March 2024
/
Revised: 4 April 2024
/
Accepted: 9 April 2024
/
Published: 11 April 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Repurposing and Reformulation for Cancer Treatment)
Simple Summary
Drug repurposing is emerging as a promising avenue for addressing clinical challenges in treating drug-resistant and metastatic cancers. As a case study, some FDA-approved drugs and re-engineered proteins have been revitalized to target various mechanisms in sensitizing drug-resistant cancers. Various computational approaches, including genome-wide association studies, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning, have been discussed for repurposing drugs for cancer treatment. The drug repurposing approach holds great promise in revolutionizing cancer therapeutics.
Abstract
Cancer persists as a global challenge necessitating continual innovation in treatment strategies. Despite significant advancements in comprehending the disease, cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, exerting substantial economic burdens on healthcare systems and societies. The emergence of drug resistance further complicates therapeutic efficacy, underscoring the urgent need for alternative approaches. Drug repurposing, characterized by the utilization of existing drugs for novel clinical applications, emerges as a promising avenue for addressing these challenges. Repurposed drugs, comprising FDA-approved (in other disease indications), generic, off-patent, and failed medications, offer distinct advantages including established safety profiles, cost-effectiveness, and expedited development timelines compared to novel drug discovery processes. Various methodologies, such as knowledge-based analyses, drug-centric strategies, and computational approaches, play pivotal roles in identifying potential candidates for repurposing. However, despite the promise of repurposed drugs, drug repositioning confronts formidable obstacles. Patenting issues, financial constraints associated with conducting extensive clinical trials, and the necessity for combination therapies to overcome the limitations of monotherapy pose significant challenges. This review provides an in-depth exploration of drug repurposing, covering a diverse array of approaches including experimental, re-engineering protein, nanotechnology, and computational methods. Each of these avenues presents distinct opportunities and obstacles in the pursuit of identifying novel clinical uses for established drugs. By examining the multifaceted landscape of drug repurposing, this review aims to offer comprehensive insights into its potential to transform cancer therapeutics.
