Tubulin as a well-established yet underexploited target: new opportunities for drugs repurposing?

Drug repurposing can accelerate oncology translation by leveraging approved compounds with known pharmacology; success depends on a plausible mechanism for the new indication. The microtubule cytoskeleton is a validated anticancer target, yet tubulin-directed activity is often overlooked for non-oncology drugs. Using nanoDSF, FDA-approved compounds were recently screened for effects on tubulin polymerisation, identifying multiple previously unrecognised microtubule-targeting agents (MTA) including Auranofin, Ebselen, Riboflavin, Aprepitant, Benzarone and Nifedipine derivatives, etc. Many hits match reported microtubule perturbation or cancer-relevant phenotypes, and several have been considered for oncology repositioning. These observations suggest microtubule targeting may contribute to anticancer effects more often than appreciated and that tubulin remains an underexploited repurposing target. The aim of this review is to place these newly identified MTAs in the context of current knowledge and to discuss their potential for drug repurposing in oncology.