Phyotochemical candidates repurposing for cancer therapy and their molecular mechanisms

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Cancer remains a significant global health burden despite conventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.
• Drug repurposing offers a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to traditional drug discovery.
• Metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, exemplifies the successful repurposing of existing medications for cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anticancer potential of phytochemicals initially approved for treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, infectious diarrhea, depression, and malaria.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms and efficacies of these repurposed phytochemicals in cancer treatment.
• To suggest future research directions for phytochemicals in oncology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific databases focusing on phytochemicals with established therapeutic uses beyond oncology.
• Analysis of studies investigating the anticancer mechanisms and efficacy of these phytochemicals.
• Synthesis of information on drug repurposing strategies in cancer therapy.

Main Results:

• Identified several phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer properties, originally approved for non-oncological indications.
• Detailed the diverse molecular pathways targeted by these phytochemicals, including anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic effects.
• Highlighted the potential of these compounds as novel or adjuvant cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

• Phytochemicals repurposed from other therapeutic areas represent a promising avenue for cancer treatment development.
• Understanding their molecular mechanisms is crucial for optimizing their efficacy and safety in oncology.
• Further research is warranted to translate the potential of these repurposed agents into clinical applications for cancer patients.