Anti-fungal drug may treat cancer: study

Itraconazole shows potential particularly in non-small cell lung cancer and possibly in some rarer malignancies as well, says researcher

A drug commonly used to treat a broad range of fungal infections, including skin and nail infections, may help treat cancer, according to new research.

Itraconazole has a lot of potential as a new cancer treatment, according to The Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project, an international collaboration of anticancer researchers.

"Itraconazole shows potential in a number of areas with high unmet patient needs, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer and possibly in some rarer malignancies," said Pan Pantziarka, member of the ReDO project.

"That there are a number of clinical trials on-going in a range of different cancers is an encouraging start," said Pantziarka.

Itraconazole, a generic agent that costs relatively little, shows some evidence of efficacy in metastatic prostate cancer - which would make it an attractive proposition given the high costs associated with cancer treatments such as arbiraterone, Pantziarka noted.

The repurposed anticancer drugs such as antifungals and painkillers may represent the future of cancer drug research, according to leaders of the ReDO project.

The researchers hope that increased awareness will bring these medications out of the medicine cabinet - and possibly into cancer care.

The findings were published in the journal ecancermedicalscience.