Metronomic chemotherapy and drug repurposing: A paradigm shift in oncology

Metronomic chemotherapy and drug repurposing: A paradigm shift in oncology

14 January 2024 | Nusrat Jan, Shazia Sofi, Hina Qayoom, Aisha Shabir, Burhan Ul Haq, Muzaffar A. Macha, Abdullah Almilaibary, Manzoor Ahmad Mir
Cancer is a significant global health and economic burden, with high mortality rates. Traditional chemotherapy often fails to eradicate various types of cancer and can cause severe side effects due to harm to healthy cells. Two therapeutic approaches have emerged to address these limitations: metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) and drug repurposing. MCT involves administering chemotherapeutic regimens at lower doses without long drug-free intervals, reducing side effects and improving disease management. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs initially developed for other purposes as potential cancer treatments, accelerating the timeline from laboratory to patient due to pre-existing safety and dosage data. The intersection of these two strategies forms a novel therapeutic approach called "Metronomics," which offers reduced toxicity, potential for oral administration, improved patient quality of life, accelerated clinical implementation, and enhanced affordability. Clinical studies have endorsed the efficacy of MCT with tolerable side effects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This review highlights the benefits and applications of MCT and drug repurposing, focusing on breast cancer, showcasing promising results from preclinical and clinical studies. However, additional clinical investigations are needed to definitively establish the role of MCT in comprehensive cancer management.Cancer is a significant global health and economic burden, with high mortality rates. Traditional chemotherapy often fails to eradicate various types of cancer and can cause severe side effects due to harm to healthy cells. Two therapeutic approaches have emerged to address these limitations: metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) and drug repurposing. MCT involves administering chemotherapeutic regimens at lower doses without long drug-free intervals, reducing side effects and improving disease management. Drug repurposing involves using existing drugs initially developed for other purposes as potential cancer treatments, accelerating the timeline from laboratory to patient due to pre-existing safety and dosage data. The intersection of these two strategies forms a novel therapeutic approach called "Metronomics," which offers reduced toxicity, potential for oral administration, improved patient quality of life, accelerated clinical implementation, and enhanced affordability. Clinical studies have endorsed the efficacy of MCT with tolerable side effects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This review highlights the benefits and applications of MCT and drug repurposing, focusing on breast cancer, showcasing promising results from preclinical and clinical studies. However, additional clinical investigations are needed to definitively establish the role of MCT in comprehensive cancer management.
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