Repurposing of Antimicrobial Agents for Cancer Therapy: What Do We Know?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Oncology
• Drug Discovery and Development

Background:

• High costs, long timelines, and attrition rates in drug discovery necessitate alternative strategies.
• Drug repurposing leverages existing drugs' known safety profiles for new indications, reducing development risks and costs.
• Cancer therapy faces challenges with increasing drug resistance, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anti-cancer activities of antimicrobial agents.
• To discuss the mechanisms of action of these agents against cancer.
• To present their current stage of clinical development or evaluation for oncological applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of existing data on antimicrobial agents with anti-cancer properties.
• Examination of preclinical and clinical trial data (e.g., Redo database) for relevant drug candidates.
• Synthesis of information regarding mechanisms of action and developmental status.

Main Results:

• A significant body of evidence indicates that numerous non-cancer drugs, including antimicrobial agents, exhibit anti-cancer effects.
• 335 drugs are currently under investigation in clinical trials for potential cancer treatment applications.
• Antimicrobial agents show promise as repurposed drugs for oncology due to their established safety and potential efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial agents represent a promising class of compounds for drug repurposing in oncology.
• Further investigation into their anti-cancer mechanisms and clinical evaluation is warranted.
• Drug repurposing of antimicrobials offers a viable strategy to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies.