Repurposing metabolic regulators: antidiabetic drugs as anticancer agents

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Drug repurposing offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional cancer drug discovery.
• Metabolic reprogramming is a key hallmark of cancer, making metabolic regulators potential therapeutic targets.
• Chronically used medications, such as antidiabetic drugs, are attractive candidates for repurposing due to established safety profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current insights into repurposing antidiabetic drugs for cancer treatment.
• To evaluate the potential anti-cancer properties of various antidiabetic drug classes.
• To discuss the complex relationship between antidiabetic drug use and cancer risk.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating antidiabetic drugs and their effects on cancer.
• Analysis of preclinical and clinical data on drug repurposing in oncology.
• Synthesis of information on mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Metformin shows potential anti-cancer properties, including reduced proliferation and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity.
• Sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have demonstrated inconsistent anti-cancer activity.
• Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors show some promise, while glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) raise concerns about increased cancer risk.

Conclusions:

• Antidiabetic drugs exhibit heterogeneous effects on cancer, with metformin being a notable candidate.
• Further research is crucial to understand the mechanisms and validate the efficacy and safety of these repurposed drugs in clinical settings.
• The repurposing of antidiabetic medications for cancer therapy requires careful consideration of individual drug profiles and patient outcomes.