Protective role of anticancer drugs in neurodegenerative disorders: A drug repurposing approach. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Advani, Dia; Gupta, Rohan; Tripathi, Rahul; Sharma, Sudhanshu; Ambasta, Rashmi K.; Kumar, Pravir
• Is Part Of: Neurochemistry international. Volume 140(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Anticancer drugs -- Neurodegenerative disorders -- Drug repurposing -- Kinase inhibitors -- Neurotoxins; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Periodicals; 612.804205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104841
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-0186

Abstract

Abstract: The disease heterogeneity and little therapeutic progress in neurodegenerative diseases justify the need for novel and effective drug discovery approaches. Drug repurposing is an emerging approach that reinvigorates the classical drug discovery method by divulging new therapeutic uses of existing drugs. The common biological background and inverse tuning between cancer and neurodegeneration give weight to the conceptualization of repurposing of anticancer drugs as novel therapeutics. Many studies are available in the literature, which highlights the success story of anticancer drugs as repurposed therapeutics. Among them, kinase inhibitors, developed for various oncology indications evinced notable neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we shed light on the salient role of multiple protein kinases in neurodegenerative disorders. We also proposed a feasible explanation of the action of kinase inhibitors in neurodegenerative disorders with more attention towards neurodegenerative disorders. The problem of neurotoxicity associated with some anticancer drugs is also highlighted. Our review encourages further research to better encode the hidden potential of anticancer drugs with the aim of developing prospective repurposed drugs with no toxicity for neurodegenerative disorders. Highlights: Common signaling mechanisms and interdependent regulation of neurons and tumor cells with respect to tumor microenvironment. Potential neuroprotective mechanisms and therapeutic significance of anticancer drugs in neuroprotection. Potential therapeutic relevance of kinase inhibitors and defensive functions of anticancer drugs against various neurotoxins. Protective mechanisms of anticancer drugs against oxidative stress and excito-neurotoxicity. Drug resistance in the brain, drug repurposing and challenges of chemotherapeutics.