Revolutionizing ovarian cancer therapy by drug repositioning for accelerated and cost-effective treatments Original paper

What was studied?

The study explores drug repositioning as a transformative strategy for ovarian cancer (OC) treatment, highlighting the potential of repurposing existing drugs for more effective, accelerated, and cost-efficient therapies. The review focuses on in vitro experiments with various cancer cell lines and preclinical in vivo models to evaluate the efficacy of repurposed drugs, including antiparasitics, antibiotics, and antiretrovirals, as well as their synergistic potential when combined with conventional cancer therapies like chemotherapy.

Who was studied?

The research reviewed a broad spectrum of studies involving ovarian cancer cell lines (such as SKOV-3, A2780, OVCAR-3) and preclinical murine models. These studies aim to evaluate the effects of repurposed drugs on ovarian cancer cell viability, migration, and tumorigenesis. The review also examined clinical trials involving patients with recurrent or resistant ovarian cancer, particularly focusing on those who were resistant to platinum-based therapies.

Most important findings

The study highlighted several key findings related to the efficacy of repurposed drugs for ovarian cancer treatment. For example, statins like atorvastatin, commonly used for lowering cholesterol, showed promise in inhibiting ovarian cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis through pathways such as Akt/mTOR and MAPK activation. Ormeloxifene, a contraceptive drug, was found to suppress proliferation and promote apoptosis in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells. Monensin, an antibiotic, showed effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth and migration by modulating the MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Ivermectin, an antiparasitic, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells, particularly when combined with paclitaxel.

Key implications

The study underscores the potential of drug repositioning to accelerate the availability of new cancer treatments. By leveraging the existing safety profiles of these drugs, researchers can bypass much of the long and expensive drug development process. The ability to repurpose drugs like statins, ivermectin, and monensin could provide cost-effective solutions, particularly in resource-limited settings. Additionally, the synergy between repurposed drugs and existing treatments opens the door for more personalized and combinatory therapeutic strategies, which may improve treatment efficacy and overcome common challenges like drug resistance in ovarian cancer patients.