Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease

Authors

Jad Majeed, University of Arizona Honors College, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Marwan N. Sabbagh, Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders Division,Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.Follow
Min H. Kang, Department of Pediatrics, Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
J Josh Lawrence, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Kevin Pruitt, Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Sarah Bacus, Seq Biomarque, Chicago, IL, USA.
Ellie Reyna, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Maddy Brown, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Boris Decourt, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Despite the recent full FDA approval of lecanemab, there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) that can efficiently slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population. This statement emphasizes the need to identify novel DMTs in the shortest time possible to prevent a global epidemic of AD cases as the world population experiences an increase in lifespan. AREAS COVERED: Here, we review several classes of anti-cancer drugs that have been or are being investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD, including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. EXPERT OPINION: Given the overall course of brain pathologies during the progression of AD, we express a great enthusiasm for the repositioning of anti-cancer drugs as possible AD DMTs. We anticipate an increasing number of combinatorial therapy strategies to tackle AD symptoms and their underlying pathologies. However, we strongly encourage improvements in clinical trial study designs to better assess target engagement and possible efficacy over sufficient periods of drug exposure.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy); Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use); Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use); Drug Repositioning

Publication Date

12-1-2023

Publication Title

Expert opinion on emerging drugs

E-ISSN

1744-7623

Volume

28

Issue

4

First Page

311

Last Page

332

PubMed ID

38100555

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/14728214.2023.2296079

Recommended Citation

Majeed, Jad; Sabbagh, Marwan N.; Kang, Min H.; Lawrence, J Josh; Pruitt, Kevin; Bacus, Sarah; Reyna, Ellie; Brown, Maddy; and Decourt, Boris, "Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease" (2023). Neurology. 1707.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/1707