Repurposing drugs targeting metabolic diseases for cancer therapeutics

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Drug discovery for cancer is challenging, making drug repurposing a viable alternative.
• Cancer is increasingly recognized as a metabolic disease, suggesting potential therapeutic overlap.
• Repurposing drugs approved for metabolic disorders offers a cost-effective and faster route to clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the repurposing of drugs approved for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) as anti-cancer treatments.
• To elucidate the cancer signaling pathways targeted by these repurposed metabolic disorder drugs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on drug repurposing for cancer.
• Analysis of approved drugs for diabetes and CVD with demonstrated anti-cancer potential.
• Examination of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved.

Main Results:

• Several drugs approved for diabetes and CVD exhibit promising anti-cancer activities.
• These drugs target key cancer signaling pathways, offering novel therapeutic strategies.
• The review highlights specific examples and their underlying mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Repurposing metabolic disorder drugs is a promising strategy to overcome challenges in cancer drug development.
• Understanding the targeted pathways provides a foundation for further clinical investigation and drug development.
• This approach facilitates cost-effective and rapid translation of therapeutic discoveries.