Repurposed Drugs Show Promise in Preventing Breast Cancer from Returning

Strategic Insights -

Scientists have been trying to understand how to prevent breast cancer from recurring by finding new ways to target and destroy hidden cancer cells. One promising approach is by testing old malaria drugs as a way to prevent breast cancer from returning through a process called "drug repurposing." Researchers have identified two key ways these drugs might work to treat cancer: by targeting autophagy, a process that helps cancer cells survive under stress, and by affecting genes that control cell growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • Anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been found to reduce the number of hidden cancer cells in both lab dishes and people.
  • In a small human trial on 53 patients with minimal residual disease, 92% of those who took hydroxychloroquine alone remained cancer-free after three years, compared to 93% using the targeted breast cancer therapy everolimus.
  • A combination of hydroxychloroquine and everolimus showed 100% of patients remaining cancer-free at three years, with only two relapses occurring by the seven-year mark.
  • Other drug classes have also shown promise in cancer research, including anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, antipsychotics, and blood pressure drugs.
  • Drug repurposing has real advantages, including potential faster and lower-cost treatments, but the journey from promising lab results to actual treatments is long and uncertain.
  • Every new idea still needs careful testing, and patients should always talk to their doctors before trying any unproven treatments.

Statistics:

  • 92% of patients who took hydroxychloroquine alone remained cancer-free after three years.
  • 93% of patients using the targeted breast cancer therapy everolimus remained cancer-free after three years.
  • 100% of patients taking a combination of hydroxychloroquine and everolimus remained cancer-free at three years.
  • 2 relapses occurred by the seven-year mark.

Sources:

  • From antibiotics to antimalarials: how repurposed drugs might keep cancer from returning (The Conversation -- UK -- By Ahmed Elbediwy, Senior Lecturer in Cancer Biology & Clinical Biochemistry, Kingston University)

Note: The article was published on the Conversation UK website without a specific date, but is likely to be from 2025 based on the publication and the context.