Repurposing the antipsychotic drug penfluridol for cancer treatment (Review)

• Published in: Oncology Reports
• Main Author: Mze A.A.I.; Rahman A.A.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Spandidos Publications 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85208048947&doi=10.3892%2for.2024.8833&partnerID=40&md5=8b56348d51a6cc25542d9a6ff27a668a

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases and the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the improved survival rates of cancer in recent years, the current available treatments often face resistance and side effects. Drug repurposing represents a cost-effective and efficient alternative to cancer treatment. Recent studies revealed that penfluridol (PF), an antipsychotic drug, is a promising anticancer agent. In the present study, a scoping review was conducted to ascertain the anticancer properties of PF. For this, a literature search was performed using the Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases with the search string 'penfluridol' AND 'cancer'. A total of 23 original articles with in vivo and/or in vitro studies on the effect of PF on cancer were included in the scoping review. The outcome of the analysis demonstrated the anticancer potential of PF. PF significantly inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion while inducing apoptosis and autophagy in vivo and across a spectrum of cancer cell lines, including breast, lung, pancreatic, glioblastoma, gallbladder, bladder, oesophageal, leukaemia and renal cancers. However, research on PF derivatives with high anticancer activities and reduced neurological side effects may be necessary. © 2024 Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.