Title:Recent Advancements in Refashioning of NSAIDs and their Derivatives as
Anticancer Candidates
Volume: 30
Issue: 16
Author(s): Asmaa E. Kassab*Ehab M. Gedawy
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Street, Cairo, P.O. Box
11562, Egypt
Keywords:
Inflammation, cancer, NSAIDs, SARs, COX, drug repurposing.
Abstract: Inflammation is critical to the formation and development of tumors and is closely associated with
cancer. Therefore, addressing inflammation and the mediators that contribute to the inflammatory process
may be a useful strategy for both cancer prevention and treatment. Tumor predisposition can be attributed to
inflammation. It has been demonstrated that NSAIDs can modify the tumor microenvironment by enhancing
apoptosis and chemosensitivity and reducing cell migration. There has been a recent rise in interest in drug
repositioning or repurposing because the development of innovative medications is expensive, timeconsuming,
and presents a considerable obstacle to drug discovery. Repurposing drugs is crucial for the
quicker and less expensive development of anticancer medicines, according to an increasing amount of research.
This review summarizes the antiproliferative activity of derivatives of NSAIDs such as Diclofenac,
Etodolac, Celecoxib, Ibuprofen, Tolmetin, and Sulindac, published between 2017 and 2023. Their mechanism
of action and structural activity relationships (SARs) were also discussed to set the path for potential future
repositioning of NSAIDs for clinical deployment in the treatment of cancer.
