The evidence for repurposing anti-epileptic drugs to target cancer

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are being explored for novel therapeutic applications beyond epilepsy.
• Cancer therapy faces challenges including drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and high costs.
• Drug repurposing offers a strategy to identify new antitumor agents from existing, approved medications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anticancer properties of antiepileptic drugs.
• To examine the link between cancer and epileptic pathways.
• To highlight AEDs with positive preclinical and clinical trial results for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on antiepileptic drugs with demonstrated anticancer potential.
• Analysis of studies investigating the efficacy of AEDs in various cancer types and brain tumor progression.
• Consideration of advancements in genomics, proteomics, and computational approaches in drug repurposing.

Main Results:

• Several antiepileptic drugs, including valproic acid, oxcarbazepine, lacosamide, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam, exhibited beneficial outcomes against different cancers.
• These AEDs show potential in targeting cancer and tumor progression, particularly in brain cancers.
• Positive results were observed in both preclinical studies and clinical trials for specific antiepileptic drugs.

Conclusions:

• Antiepileptic drugs represent a promising avenue for drug repurposing in oncology.
• These drugs may serve as valuable options for adjuvant cancer therapy.
• Further clinical investigation is warranted to fully establish the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs in cancer treatment.