Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
Drug Repurposing in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Old Solutions for New Problems
George Doumat1, Darine Daher1, Morgan Bou Zerdan1
1Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
Abstract:
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in 2022. The majority (80%) of lung cancer cases belong to the non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) subtype. Despite the increased screening efforts, the median five-year survival of metastatic NSCLC remains low at approximately 3%. Common treatment approaches for NSCLC include surgery, multimodal chemotherapy, and concurrent radio and chemotherapy. NSCLC exhibits high rates of resistance to treatment, driven by its heterogeneity and the plasticity of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Drug repurposing offers a faster and cheaper way to develop new antineoplastic purposes for existing drugs, to help overcome therapy resistance. The decrease in time and funds needed stems from the availability of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to be repurposed. This review provides a synopsis of the drug-repurposing approaches and mechanisms of action of potential candidate drugs used in treating NSCLC, including but not limited to antihypertensives, anti-hyperlipidemics, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-diabetics, and anti-microbials.
Insights
Drug repurposing offers a promising strategy to combat non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treatment resistance. This review explores existing drugs for novel anti-NSCLC applications, accelerating therapy development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer death, with metastatic disease having a poor prognosis.
- Current NSCLC treatments face significant challenges due to tumor heterogeneity and cancer stem cell plasticity, leading to high rates of therapy resistance.
- Developing novel, effective, and cost-efficient treatments for NSCLC is a critical unmet need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review drug repurposing strategies for treating non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
- To explore the mechanisms of action for various repurposed drug candidates.
- To identify potential existing medications that can be repurposed for anti-NSCLC therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of drug repurposing approaches in NSCLC treatment.
- Analysis of mechanisms of action for candidate drugs from diverse therapeutic classes.
- Synopsis of drug repurposing benefits, including reduced time and cost due to existing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
Main Results:
- Drug repurposing presents a viable and accelerated pathway for developing new NSCLC treatments.
- Existing drugs, including antihypertensives, anti-hyperlipidemics, anti-inflammatories, anti-diabetics, and anti-microbials, show potential for repurposing against NSCLC.
- Understanding the mechanisms of action is crucial for identifying effective repurposed agents.
Conclusions:
- Drug repurposing is a valuable strategy to overcome treatment resistance in NSCLC.
- A wide range of FDA-approved drugs can be investigated for novel anti-NSCLC efficacy.
- Further research into specific repurposed drug candidates and their mechanisms is warranted to improve NSCLC patient outcomes.
More Related Videos
06:51Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer
Published on: July 21, 2018
06:03Orthotopic Transplantation of Syngeneic Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells to Study PD-L1 Expression
Published on: January 19, 2019
