title: The wisdom of crowds and the repurposing of artesunate as an anticancer drug.
abstract: Artesunate, a semi-synthetic and water-soluble artemisinin-derivative used as an anti-malarial agent, has attracted the attention of cancer researchers due to a broad range of anti-cancer activity including anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory and treatment-sensitisation effects. In addition to pre-clinical evidence in a range of cancers, a recently completed randomised blinded trial in colorectal cancer has provided a positive signal for further clinical investigation. Used perioperatively artesunate appears to reduce the rate of disease recurrence - and the Neo-Art trial, a larger Phase II RCT, is seeking to confirm this positive effect. However, artesunate is a generic medication, and as with other trials of repurposed drugs, the Neo-Art trial does not have commercial sponsorship. In an innovative move, the trial is seeking funds directly from members of the public via a crowd-funding strategy that may have resonance beyond this single trial.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Medical Parasitology Group, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Medical Parasitology Group, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Devinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Anticancer Fund, Brussels, 1853 Strombeek-Bever, Belgium ; The George Pantziarka TP53 Trust, London KT1 2JP, UK.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantziarka