Repurposing antifungal drugs for cancer therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Drug Repurposing

Background:

• Antifungal drugs are being repurposed for cancer therapy, offering advantages like safety and cost-effectiveness.
• Their efficacy stems from overlapping molecular targets and pathways in fungal and cancer pathogenesis.
• Advancements in omics and informatics identify new 'off-site' targets for antifungal drugs in cancer, such as itraconazole's inhibition of smoothened in basal cell carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review antifungal drugs repurposed for cancer therapy.
• To elucidate the mechanisms of action, including original and 'off-site' targets.
• To discuss challenges and future perspectives for clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
• Analysis of molecular targets and pathways.
• Discussion of drug repurposing strategies.

Main Results:

• Several antifungal drugs demonstrate efficacy in cancer therapy.
• Mechanisms involve targeting shared pathways and novel 'off-site' targets.
• Drug repurposing offers a viable strategy for cancer treatment development.

Conclusions:

• Repurposed antifungal drugs present a promising avenue for cancer management.
• Understanding their mechanisms can accelerate clinical translation.
• This approach broadens indications for antifungal agents and enhances cancer drug discovery.