Anticancer drugs repurposed for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review
Antonio Ancidoni1, Ilaria Bacigalupo2, Giulia Remoli2
1National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Via Giano della Bella 34, 00162, Rome, Italy. antonio.ancidoni@iss.it.
Background:
The relationship between cancer and dementia is triggering growing research interest. Several preclinical studies have provided the biological rationale for the repurposing of specific anticancer agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and a growing number of research protocols are testing their efficacy and safety/tolerability in patients with AD.
Methods:
The aim of the present systematic review was to provide an overview on the repurposing of approved anticancer drugs in clinical trials for AD by considering both ongoing and completed research protocols in all phases. In parallel, a systematic literature review was conducted on PubMed, ISI Web, and the Cochrane Library to identify published clinical studies on repurposed anticancer agents in AD.
Results:
Based on a structured search on the ClinicalTrials.gov and the EudraCT databases, we identified 13 clinical trials testing 11 different approved anticancer agents (five tyrosine kinase inhibitors, two retinoid X receptor agonists, two immunomodulatory agents, one histone deacetylase inhibitor, and one monoclonal antibody) in the AD continuum. The systematic literature search led to the identification of five published studies (one phase I, three phase II, and one phase IIb/III) reporting the effects of antitumoral treatments in patients with mild cognitive impairment or AD dementia. The clinical findings and the methodological characteristics of these studies are described and discussed.
Conclusion:
Anticancer agents are triggering growing interest in the context of repurposed therapies in AD. Several clinical trials are underway, and data are expected to be available in the near future. To date, data emerging from published clinical studies are controversial. The promising results emerging from preclinical studies and identified research protocols should be confirmed and extended by larger, adequately designed, and high-quality clinical trials.
Insights
Anticancer drugs are being investigated for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. While preclinical studies show promise, current clinical trial data for repurposing these agents in AD is limited and controversial, requiring further high-quality research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growing research interest links cancer and dementia.
- Preclinical studies suggest anticancer agents may be repurposed for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Clinical trials are actively investigating the efficacy and safety of these repurposed drugs in AD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the repurposing of approved anticancer drugs in clinical trials for AD.
- To identify and analyze ongoing and completed research protocols across all trial phases.
- To conduct a parallel systematic literature review of published studies on repurposed anticancer agents in AD.
Main Methods:
- Searched ClinicalTrials.gov and EudraCT databases for relevant clinical trials.
- Identified 13 trials testing 11 distinct approved anticancer agents for the AD continuum.
- Performed systematic literature searches on PubMed, ISI Web, and Cochrane Library for published studies.
Main Results:
- Eleven approved anticancer agents, including TKIs, RXR agonists, and immunomodulatory drugs, are being tested in 13 AD clinical trials.
- Five published studies (Phase I to IIb/III) reported on antitumoral treatments in mild cognitive impairment or AD dementia.
- Clinical findings from published studies are currently controversial, with ongoing trials expected to yield more data.
Conclusions:
- Anticancer agents are a focus for repurposed therapies in AD, with numerous clinical trials underway.
- Published clinical data to date is conflicting, highlighting the need for more research.
- Larger, well-designed, high-quality clinical trials are essential to confirm promising preclinical findings and extend current knowledge.
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