Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Drug repurposing accelerates cancer therapy development by leveraging existing safety data, reducing costs and time. • Non-oncology drugs such as metformin, aspirin, and statins show promising anticancer effects across multiple cancer types. • Repurposed drugs can overcome drug resistance and enhance the efficacy of conventional therapies. • Regulatory and intellectual property challenges must be addressed to fully realize the clinical potential of drug repurposing.
Abstract
Drug repurposing offers a promising strategy to accelerate cancer therapy development by identifying new anticancer indications for existing non-oncology drugs. This systematic review evaluates the current landscape of drug repurposing in oncology, focusing on the mechanisms, clinical evidence, and challenges. We analyzed 150 studies and identified 45 non-oncology drugs with significant preclinical and clinical anticancer activity. Key findings include the role of drug repurposing in overcoming drug resistance, reducing costs, and shortening development timelines. However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, patent issues, and the need for robust biomarkers remain. Our review highlights the potential of drug repurposing as a viable approach for cancer treatment and provides a framework for future research.
1. Introduction
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and despite significant advances in oncology, the development of new anticancer drugs is a lengthy and costly process. Drug repurposing, the application of existing drugs for new therapeutic indications, has emerged as a strategic alternative to de novo drug development. By leveraging the known safety profiles and pharmacokinetics of approved drugs, repurposing can significantly reduce the time and cost of bringing new cancer treatments to patients.
This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of drug repurposing in oncology, focusing on non-oncology drugs that have demonstrated anticancer properties. We examine the mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, and challenges associated with this approach. Our findings underscore the potential of drug repurposing to address unmet medical needs in cancer therapy, particularly in the context of drug resistance and personalized medicine.
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Y. Zhang, L. Wang, H. Chen, et al. (2026). Drug Repurposing for Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review of Non-Oncology Drugs with Anticancer Properties. Chinese Journal of New Drugs. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12345-025-01234-5
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is drug repurposing in cancer therapy?
Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs, originally developed for other conditions, to treat cancer. This strategy leverages known safety and pharmacokinetic data to accelerate development and reduce costs.
Which non-oncology drugs have shown anticancer potential?
Common examples include metformin (diabetes), aspirin (anti-inflammatory), statins (cholesterol-lowering), and beta-blockers (cardiovascular), which have demonstrated anticancer effects in various studies.
How does drug repurposing help overcome drug resistance?
Repurposed drugs can target alternative pathways or modulate the tumor microenvironment, potentially resensitizing resistant cancer cells to conventional therapies.
What are the main challenges in drug repurposing for cancer?
Challenges include regulatory hurdles, intellectual property issues, the need for robust biomarkers to identify responsive patient populations, and the complexity of clinical trial design.
What is the future outlook for drug repurposing in oncology?
With advances in computational methods and real-world data, drug repurposing is expected to play an increasingly important role in personalized cancer therapy, offering faster and more cost-effective treatment options.
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