Anticancer compounds as leishmanicidal drugs: challenges in chemotherapy and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania species, affecting 12 million globally with 80,000 deaths annually.
• Current treatments like pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, and pentamidine have limitations including toxicity, cost, and administration routes.
• The overlap in molecular targets between cancer and parasitic diseases suggests potential for repurposing anticancer agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review anticancer compounds investigated for their antileishmanial activity.
• To summarize findings on in vitro antileishmanial activities, clinical trial data, and patents of these compounds.
• To discuss current challenges and future directions in leishmaniasis chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific databases and patent repositories.
• Analysis of studies investigating anticancer compounds against Leishmania parasites.
• Synthesis of data on efficacy, toxicity, and clinical development.

Main Results:

• Several anticancer compounds exhibit in vitro antileishmanial activity.
• Some agents have progressed to clinical trials or are covered by registered patents.
• The review identifies specific molecules with dual anticancer and antiprotozoal potential.

Conclusions:

• Anticancer compounds represent a promising avenue for novel leishmaniasis treatments.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome challenges in drug delivery and toxicity.
• Repurposing anticancer drugs offers a viable strategy to combat leishmaniasis effectively.