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Anthelmintic Drugs as Emerging Immune Modulators in Cancer
Carmine Stolfi1, Teresa Pacifico1, Anderson Luiz-Ferreira2
1Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Despite recent advances in treatment approaches, cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Restoration of tumor immune surveillance represents a valid strategy to overcome the acquired resistance and cytotoxicity of conventional therapies in oncology and immunotherapeutic drugs, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunogenic cell death inducers, and has substantially progressed the treatment of several malignancies and improved the clinical management of advanced disease. Unfortunately, because of tumor-intrinsic and/or -extrinsic mechanisms for escaping immune surveillance, only a fraction of patients clinically respond to and benefit from cancer immunotherapy. Accumulating evidence derived from studies of drug repositioning, that is, the strategy to identify new uses for approved or investigational drugs that are outside the scope of the original medical indication, has suggested that some anthelmintic drugs, in addition to their antineoplastic effects, exert important immunomodulatory actions on specific subsets of immune cell and related pathways. In this review, we report and discuss current knowledge on the impact of anthelmintic drugs on host immunity and their potential implication in cancer immunotherapy.
Insights
Anthelmintic drugs show promise beyond their antiparasitic effects, potentially enhancing cancer immunotherapy by modulating the host immune system. Further research could unlock new strategies for treating cancer by repurposing these drugs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading global cause of death despite advances in treatment.
- Cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, has improved outcomes but benefits only a subset of patients due to immune evasion.
- Tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors contribute to resistance against current cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of anthelmintic drugs' impact on host immunity.
- To explore the potential of anthelmintic drugs in augmenting cancer immunotherapy strategies.
- To discuss the immunomodulatory actions of repurposed anthelmintics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on drug repositioning and anthelmintic drug mechanisms.
- Analysis of evidence regarding anthelmintic effects on immune cells and pathways.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on immunomodulation by anthelmintics in the context of cancer.
Main Results:
- Some anthelmintic drugs possess antineoplastic effects.
- Anthelmintics can exert significant immunomodulatory actions on specific immune cell subsets and pathways.
- Drug repositioning studies suggest potential for anthelmintics in cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- Anthelmintic drugs represent a potential avenue for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
- Their immunomodulatory properties warrant further investigation for clinical application.
- Repurposing anthelmintics could offer novel therapeutic strategies for overcoming cancer immune resistance.
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