HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Existing drugs and their application in drug discovery targeting cancer stem cells.

Abstract
Despite standard cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy have shown some efficacies, the cancer in many cases eventually relapses and metastasizes upon stopping the treatment. There is a small subpopulation of cancer cells within tumor, with specific characters similar to those found in stem cells. This group of cancer cells is known as tumor-initiating or cancer stem cells (CSCs), which have an ability to self-renew and give rise to cancer cell progeny. CSCs are related with drug resistance, metastasis and relapse of cancer, hence emerging as a crucial drug target for eliminating cancer. Rapid advancement of CSC biology has enabled researchers to isolate and culture CSCs in vitro, making the cells amenable to high-throughput drug screening. Recently, drug repositioning, which utilizes existing drugs to develop potential new indications, has been gaining popularity as an alternative approach for the drug discovery. As existing drugs have favorable bioavailability and safety profiles, drug repositioning is now actively exploited for prompt development of therapeutics for many serious diseases, such as cancer. In this review, we will introduce latest examples of attempted drug repositioning targeting CSCs and discuss potential use of the repositioned drugs for cancer therapy.
AuthorsJunfang Lv, Joong Sup Shim
JournalArchives of pharmacal research (Arch Pharm Res) Vol. 38 Issue 9 Pg. 1617-26 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1976-3786 [Electronic] Korea (South)
PMID26152874 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
Chemical References
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Niclosamide
  • Metformin
Topics
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, metabolism)
  • Drug Delivery Systems (methods)
  • Drug Discovery (methods)
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm (drug effects, physiology)
  • Humans
  • Metformin (administration & dosage, metabolism)
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
  • Niclosamide (administration & dosage, metabolism)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: