Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
05:10

Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System

Published on: December 11, 2016

10.2K

Drug Repurposing in the Development of Anticancer Agents

Sureyya Olgen1, Lakshmi P Kotra2,3,4

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|July 17, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Drug repurposing for cancer treatment is a growing field, leveraging existing generic drugs with established safety profiles. This strategy capitalizes on off-target drug effects for novel therapeutic applications in diverse cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Drug repurposing for cancer treatment is an expanding research area, fueled by successful examples.
  • Generic drugs are often prioritized for repurposing due to ease of clinical trials and known safety profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review anticancer drug development strategies, focusing on drug restructuring and repurposing.
  • To provide an overview of the landscape of repurposed drugs in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Classification of repurposed drugs based on their pharmacological actions.
  • Evaluation of the clinical successes and failures of key repurposed drugs as anticancer agents.

Main Results:

  • Identified numerous repurposed drugs with potential anticancer efficacy.
  • Highlighted both successful and unsuccessful cases of drug repurposing in cancer therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Off-target drug effects can be strategically utilized for therapeutic benefit in cancer treatment.
  • The heterogeneity of cancer necessitates diverse therapeutic targets, making drug repurposing a viable strategy for identifying agents that interfere with these targets.
Keywords:
Drug repurposinganticancerclinical trialsdrug developmentoff-target effectsrecent applications.

More Related Videos

Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro09:39

Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro

Published on: March 23, 2016

9.8K
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles08:03

Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: December 1, 2016

9.5K

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
945
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
610
Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
1.5K
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents01:21

Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents

Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...
895
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents01:20

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents

Hyperlipidemia, a medical condition often referred to as high cholesterol, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream. When present in excess, these lipids, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides, can lead to serious health complications, often involving cardiovascular diseases. Illnesses like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and pancreatitis have all been linked to untreated hyperlipidemia. This means controlling and regulating cholesterol and triglyceride...
1.4K
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
697