Drug Repurposing in Oncology: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Drug Development

Background:

• High-quality pharmacological treatments enhance cancer patient survival.
• Drug repurposing offers a faster, less risky alternative to traditional drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review recent randomized controlled clinical trials on drug repurposing in oncology.
• To identify limitations in current drug repurposing trials and suggest improvements.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) focusing on drug repurposing in oncology.
• Analysis of trial designs, patient populations, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Few trials were placebo-controlled or standard-of-care-controlled.
• Metformin, mebendazole, and propranolol are among drugs investigated for repurposing in various cancers.
• Trials also explored repurposing antineoplastics for non-oncological conditions.
• Common limitations include small sample sizes, clinical heterogeneity, and inadequate consideration of multimorbidity.

Conclusions:

• Drug repurposing in oncology requires careful evaluation through well-designed trials.
• Future research must address limitations such as sample size and patient heterogeneity to ensure reliable findings.