title: Challenges and perspective of drug repurposing strategies in early phase clinical trials.
abstract: Despite significant investments in the development of new agents only 5% of cancer drugs entering Phase I clinical trials are ultimately approved for routine clinical cancer care. Drug repurposing strategies using novel combinations of previously tested anticancer agents could reduce the cost and improve treatment outcomes. At MD Anderson Cancer Center, early phase clinical trials with drug repurposing strategies demonstrated promising outcomes in patients with both rare and common treatment refractory advanced cancers. Despite clinical efficacy advancing drug repurposing strategies in the clinical trial trajectory beyond early phase studies has been challenging mainly due to lack of funding and interest from the pharmaceutical industry. In this review, we delineate our experience and challenges with drug repurposing strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moulder
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Naoto T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wheler
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meric-Bernstam
authors.affiliation: Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Razelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurzrock
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Janku
keywords: Drug repurposing; cancer; drug development; early phase trial