Commonly Used Oncology Drugs Decrease Antifungal Effectiveness against Candida and Aspergillus Species.

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are increasing due to aggressive medical treatments.
• Limited antifungal options, drug resistance, and compromised immunity complicate IFIs treatment.
• Treatment failure is common, even without microbial resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen FDA-approved oncolytic agents for effects on antifungal efficacy.
• To identify compounds impacting the effectiveness of azole antifungals.
• To investigate if oncolytic agents contribute to clinical treatment failure.

Main Methods:

• Screening of FDA-approved oncolytic agents.
• Testing against common fungal pathogens: *Candida albicans*, *Candida glabrata*, and *Aspergillus fumigatus*.
• Evaluating impact on antifungal susceptibility in the presence of azole antifungals.

Main Results:

• Several oncolytic agents were identified that enhance fungal growth.
• These drugs reduce the efficacy of azole antifungals against tested fungi.
• Potential direct impact of oncolytic agents on fungal fitness and antifungal susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Certain FDA-approved oncolytic agents can negatively affect antifungal treatment efficacy.
• These findings suggest a mechanism contributing to clinical treatment failure in IFIs.
• Further investigation into oncolytic agent-fungal interactions is warranted.