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Repurposing Antifungal Drugs for Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence
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A Dastbaz Momtaz    , FZ Ranjbar Golafshani , S Mahdavi Omran , M Taghizadeh Aramaki , Z Bandalizadeh , F Kermani * |
| 3.Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R.Iran. , Kermani.f94@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (320 Views) |
Background and Objective: Cancer, as one of the most challenging diseases of the present era, has always required the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. In recent years, extensive research has focused on repurposing existing drugs, including antifungal agents, for cancer treatment. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the mechanisms and potential applications of antifungal drugs in cancer treatment.
Methods: In this review article, valid domestic and international databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus, were searched using the keywords "cancer," "fungal infection," "antifungal drugs," "drug repurposing," "apoptosis," and "cell cycle." Articles published up to June 2025 were reviewed. Duplicate articles, those without full text, or those irrelevant to the topic were excluded from the study.
Findings: Out of a total of 126 retrieved articles, 60 articles were selected for final review after initial screening and the removal of irrelevant or duplicate articles. The results showed that many antifungal drugs, in addition to their antifungal properties, exert significant anticancer effects through various mechanisms, such as inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, reduction of angiogenesis, and regulation of cellular metabolism.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, almost all classes of antifungal drugs have demonstrated anticancer activity by targeting biological pathways shared between fungal and tumor cells, as well as through mechanisms independent of their primary target. However, further research is required to establish the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of cancer patients. |
Article number: e47 |
| Keywords: Cancer, Fungal Infection, Antifungal Drugs, Drug Repurposing. |
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Full-Text [PDF 681 kb]
(116 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Mycology
Received: 2025/05/17 | Accepted: 2025/10/4 | Published: 2026/09/30
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