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Repurposing Antifungal Agents in 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: (6 Views) |
Background and Objective: Cancer, as one of the most challenging diseases of the modern era, has always required finding new therapeutic strategies. In recent years, extensive research has focused on repurposing existing drugs, including antifungal drugs, 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: This study is a narrative review in which reputable international and national databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus, were searched to collect information. The keywords included "Cancer", "Fungal Infection", "Antifungal Drugs", "Drug Repurposing", "Apoptosis", and "Cell Cycle". Articles published until June 2025 were reviewed. Duplicate, incomplete, or irrelevant articles were excluded from the study.
Findings: Of the 126 retrieved articles, 60 articles were selected for final review after initial screening and removal of irrelevant or duplicate articles. The results indicate that many antifungal drugs, in addition to 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: Almost all classes of antifungal drugs have demonstrated anticancer activity by targeting biological pathways shared between fungal and tumor cells, as well as through off-target mechanisms. However, further research is needed to prove the efficacy of these drugs in treating cancer patients. |
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| Keywords: Cancer, Fungal Infection, Antifungal Drugs, Drugs Repurposing. |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Mycology
Received: 2025/05/17 | Accepted: 2025/10/4
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