Repurposing of Anticancer Stem Cell Drugs in Brain Tumors.
J Histochem Cytochem
; 69(12): 749-773, 2021 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34165342
ABSTRACT
Brain tumors in adults may be infrequent when compared with other cancer etiologies, but they remain one of the deadliest with bleak survival rates. Current treatment modalities encompass surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, increasing resistance rates are being witnessed, and this has been attributed, in part, to cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a subpopulation of cancer cells that reside within the tumor bulk and have the capacity for self-renewal and can differentiate and proliferate into multiple cell lineages. Studying those CSCs enables an increasing understanding of carcinogenesis, and targeting CSCs may overcome existing treatment resistance. One approach to weaponize new drugs is to target these CSCs through drug repurposing which entails using drugs, which are Food and Drug Administration-approved and safe for one defined disease, for a new indication. This approach serves to save both time and money that would otherwise be spent in designing a totally new therapy. In this review, we will illustrate drug repurposing strategies that have been used in brain tumors and then further elaborate on how these approaches, specifically those that target the resident CSCs, can help take the field of drug repurposing to a new level.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Neoplastic Stem Cells
/
Brain Neoplasms
/
Drug Repositioning
/
Antineoplastic Agents
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Histochem Cytochem
Journal subject:
HISTOCITOQUIMICA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article