Research progress in drug repurposing in the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer has become one of the most prevalent cancers among women worldwide, posing a significant burden on their health. Current standard therapies are often expensive and associated with the risk of drug resistance. Drug repurposing has gained increasing attention as a cost-effective and time-saving strategy in pharmaceutical research. Many drugs already in clinical use or undergoing clinical trials can be repurposed for the treatment of new clinical indications. Based on a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action of these drugs and the pathophysiological processes of breast cancer, researchers can better identify drugs with potential anti-breast cancer properties and translate them into clinical practice. This paper provides a review of the current research on repurposing existing drugs for breast cancer treatment, summarizes the mechanisms of action of these drugs, and discusses the challenges associated with the strategy of drug repurposing.

Keywords

• drug repurposing
• breast cancer
• chemotherapy
• anti-tumor