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Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Drug Repurposing for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Marta Ávalos-Moreno1, Araceli López-Tejada1,2, Jose L Blaya-Cánovas1,2
1GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Avenida de la Ilustración, 18016 Granada, Spain.
Abstract:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer which presents a high rate of relapse, metastasis, and mortality. Nowadays, the absence of approved specific targeted therapies to eradicate TNBC remains one of the main challenges in clinical practice. Drug discovery is a long and costly process that can be dramatically improved by drug repurposing, which identifies new uses for existing drugs, both approved and investigational. Drug repositioning benefits from improvements in computational methods related to chemoinformatics, genomics, and systems biology. To the best of our knowledge, we propose a novel and inclusive classification of those approaches whereby drug repurposing can be achieved in silico: structure-based, transcriptional signatures-based, biological networks-based, and data-mining-based drug repositioning. This review specially emphasizes the most relevant research, both at preclinical and clinical settings, aimed at repurposing pre-existing drugs to treat TNBC on the basis of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways such as androgen receptor, adrenergic receptor, STAT3, nitric oxide synthase, or AXL. Finally, because of the ability and relevance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to drive tumor aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome, we also focus on those molecules repurposed to specifically target this cell population to tackle recurrence and metastases associated with the progression of TNBC.
Insights
Drug repurposing offers a faster, cheaper way to find new treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This review classifies in silico methods and highlights drugs targeting TNBC and its cancer stem cells (CSCs).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive, with high mortality and limited targeted therapies.
- Drug discovery is lengthy and expensive; drug repurposing accelerates this by finding new uses for existing drugs.
- Computational methods in chemoinformatics, genomics, and systems biology enhance drug repositioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel classification of in silico drug repurposing approaches for TNBC.
- To review current research on repurposing drugs for TNBC, focusing on molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways.
- To highlight drugs repurposed to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) in TNBC.
Main Methods:
- Classification of in silico drug repurposing: structure-based, transcriptional signatures-based, biological networks-based, and data-mining-based.
- Review of preclinical and clinical studies on drug repurposing for TNBC.
- Focus on specific molecular targets: androgen receptor, adrenergic receptor, STAT3, nitric oxide synthase, AXL, and cancer stem cells (CSCs).
Main Results:
- Identified four main in silico drug repurposing strategies.
- Highlighted several existing drugs with potential for TNBC treatment based on molecular targets.
- Emphasized the importance of targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) to combat TNBC recurrence and metastasis.
Conclusions:
- In silico drug repurposing offers a promising strategy to accelerate the development of novel TNBC therapies.
- Targeting specific molecular pathways and cancer stem cells (CSCs) is crucial for effective TNBC treatment.
- This review provides a framework for understanding and advancing drug repurposing efforts in TNBC research.
