title: Drug-repositioning opportunities for cancer therapy: novel molecular targets for known compounds.
abstract: Drug repositioning is gaining increasing attention in drug discovery because it represents a smart way to exploit new molecular targets of a known drug or target promiscuity among diverse diseases, for medical uses different from the one originally considered. In this review, we focus on known non-oncological drugs with new therapeutic applications in oncology, explaining the rationale behind this approach and providing practical evidence. Moving from incompleteness of the knowledge of drug-target interactions, particularly for older molecules, we highlight opportunities for repurposing compounds as cancer therapeutics, underling the biologically and clinically relevant affinities for new targets. Ideal candidates for repositioning can contribute to the therapeutically unmet need for more-efficient anticancer agents, including drugs that selectively target cancer stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 2-16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Würth
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 2-16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thellung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 2-16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 2-16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 2-16132 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: federica.barbieri@unige.it.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbieri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents