Drug Repurposing: A Novel Strategy to Target Cancer Stem Cells and Therapeutic Resistance

The document discussed drug repurposing as a strategy to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) and overcome therapeutic resistance in cancer treatment. It emphasized the potential of using existing non-cancer drugs, such as itraconazole and niclosamide, to inhibit CSC growth and signaling pathways like Wnt/β-catenin. The review highlighted the advantages of drug repurposing, including reduced risk of failure and cost-effectiveness compared to new drug discovery. Clinical trials, such as the Fluvabrex study for pediatric brain cancer, showed promising outcomes, although some, like the ModuLung study, did not improve patient outcomes. Overall, drug repurposing was presented as a viable approach to developing new cancer therapies by leveraging well-characterized drugs for new therapeutic purposes.