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Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease
Jad Majeed1, Marwan N Sabbagh2, Min H Kang3
1University of Arizona Honors College, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Introduction:
Despite the recent full FDA approval of lecanemab, there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) that can efficiently slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population. This statement emphasizes the need to identify novel DMTs in the shortest time possible to prevent a global epidemic of AD cases as the world population experiences an increase in lifespan.
Areas Covered:
Here, we review several classes of anti-cancer drugs that have been or are being investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD, including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.
Expert Opinion:
Given the overall course of brain pathologies during the progression of AD, we express a great enthusiasm for the repositioning of anti-cancer drugs as possible AD DMTs. We anticipate an increasing number of combinatorial therapy strategies to tackle AD symptoms and their underlying pathologies. However, we strongly encourage improvements in clinical trial study designs to better assess target engagement and possible efficacy over sufficient periods of drug exposure.
Insights
Repurposing anti-cancer drugs offers a promising avenue for novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapies. Investigating these drugs could lead to effective disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) to combat the growing AD epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with limited effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) available.
- The increasing lifespan worldwide exacerbates the risk of a widespread AD epidemic, highlighting the urgent need for new treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and assess the potential of anti-cancer drugs as novel DMTs for Alzheimer's disease.
- To explore various classes of anti-cancer agents currently under investigation for AD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of anti-cancer drugs investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD.
- Analysis of drug classes including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.
Main Results:
- Several classes of anti-cancer drugs show promise for AD treatment.
- The repositioning of anti-cancer drugs is a viable strategy for developing new AD DMTs.
Conclusions:
- Repositioning anti-cancer drugs is a highly promising strategy for developing novel DMTs for Alzheimer's disease.
- Combinatorial therapy approaches are anticipated to play a key role in managing AD.
- Improvements in clinical trial designs are crucial for accurately evaluating drug efficacy and target engagement over extended periods.
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