Repurposed Cancer Drugs

Commonly Used Repurposed Cancer Drugs

2-Deoxy-D-Glucose

A fake glucose molecule that doesn’t get metabolized by cancer cells.
It can impair cell metabolism and cause the death of tumor cells.

Celecoxib

An anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic medication that may suppress cancer cell proliferation in breast, colon, prostate, and head and neck cancers. Also, it blocks COX-2, which is expressed in all cancer cells.

Dipyridamole

A widely prescribed medication in ischemic disorders that can be used for reducing primary breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis formation. Also, it blocks glutamine pathway.

Doxycycline

An antibiotic medication used for acne can also be used as a tumor inhibitor for brain cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, and more. Also, it inhibits cancer stem cells.

Hydroxychloroquine

An anti-malarial medication that contains anti-tumor effects. Because of their ability to inhibit autophagy, It can sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation.

lndole-3-Carbinol

Produced by the breakdown of the glucosinolate glucobrassicin, which can be found at relatively high levels in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. It contains anti-cancer properties that may suppress cancer growth in the breast, colon, prostate, endometrial, and more.

lvermectin

An antiparasitic medication that may be used to reduce tumor growth in glioblastoma, melanoma, colon, renal, breast cancer, and more.

Metformin

Most widely prescribed antihyperglycemic medication that contains anti-cancer effects. It may help reduce cancer development and induce cell death in the prostate, lung, breast, esophageal, colon, melanoma, and more. Also, it blocks the glucose pathway.

Naltrexone

A non-selective antagonist of opioid receptor medication that can act as an immunomodulator in multiple autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors (gastrointestinal tumors such as colon cancer and pancreatic cancer).

Resveratrol

A naturally occurring polyphenol that provides potent effects against inflammation-driven diseases, including cancer (breast, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, and prostate).

Simvastatin

A prescription medication that’s used to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as stoping the growth of tumor cells. It may help reduce the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells.

Tadalafil

A widely-used medication for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension, but can also be used as an effective cancer treatment. It stops the growth of tumor cells and may help treat patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Thymosin

An endogenous peptide that is known for its immunostimulatory and anti-viral activity that led to its application to diverse pathological conditions, including cancer (breast, colorectal, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck, leukemia, lymphoma, etc).