Drug Repurposing in Oncology: Pharmaceutical Strategies and Translational Advances
A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Pharmaceutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 1184
Editors
Interests: epigenetics; drug delivery; MAPKs signaling; cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: neuroscience; drug delivery; cancer; preclinical studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Drug repurposing or repositioning has emerged as a major driver of innovation in contemporary oncology research. This approach does not signify scientific involution, nor does it merely rely on the reutilization of so-called “golden oldies.” Rather, it represents a robust and forward-looking strategy in which rapidly advancing scientific capabilities—including molecular and phenotypic profiling, computational and systems-based methodologies, and data-driven discovery platforms—are applied to a vast and well-consolidated body of oncological knowledge. By capitalizing on existing pharmacological, formulation, and clinical data, drug repurposing enables the identification of novel anticancer indications, previously unrecognized mechanisms of action, and rational therapeutic combinations, while significantly accelerating translational development and clinical implementation.
In oncology, where attrition rates in de novo drug development remain high and unmet clinical needs persist, repurposing strategies offer a pragmatic and cost-effective pathway to therapeutic innovation. Importantly, advances in pharmaceutical sciences—ranging from drug delivery systems and formulation technologies to pharmacokinetic optimization—have expanded the potential of repurposed agents, allowing established drugs to overcome historical limitations related to bioavailability, targeting, or toxicity.
This Special Issue of Pharmaceutics aims to provide a comprehensive platform for original research articles and authoritative reviews addressing innovative drug repurposing strategies in oncology, with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical technologies, translational formulation approaches, drug delivery systems, and pharmacokinetic considerations. Contributions that deepen mechanistic understanding and effectively bridge the gap between discovery and clinical application are especially encouraged. We invite researchers to submit original articles or reviews describing established, approved drugs being explored for new oncological indications, as well as familiar therapeutics investigated through innovative delivery strategies or guided by well-characterized molecular markers that now point toward previously unrecognized disease applications.
Dr. Monia Taranta
Dr. Lisa Gherardini
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- drug repurposing
- therapeutic strategies
- translational formulations
- drug delivery
- bioavailability
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
