title: Potential anti-cancer drugs commonly used for other indications.
abstract: An increasing resistance of mammalian tumor cells to chemotherapy along with the severe side effects of commonly used cytostatics has raised the urgency in the search for new anti-cancer agents. Several drugs originally approved for indications other than cancer treatment have recently been found to have a cytostatic effect on cancer cells. These drugs could be expediently repurposed as anti-cancer agents, since they have already been tested for toxicity in humans and animals. The groups of newly recognized potential cytostatics discussed in this review include benzimidazole anthelmintics (albendazole, mebendazole, flubendazole), anti-hypertensive drugs (doxazosin, propranolol), psychopharmaceuticals (chlorpromazine, clomipramine) and antidiabetic drugs (metformin, pioglitazone). All these drugs have a definite potential to be used especially in combinations with other cytostatics; the chemotherapy targeting of multiple sites now represents a promising approach in cancer treatment. The present review summarizes recent information about the anti-cancer effects of selected drugs commonly used for other medical indications. Our aim is not to collect all the reported results, but to present an overview of various possibilities. Advantages, disadvantages and further perspectives regarding individual drugs are discussed and evaluated.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanusova
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skalova
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kralova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic. matousp7@faf.cuni.cz.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matouskova
mesh_terms: D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054697:Cytostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054697:Cytostatic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs