A new study has found that antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine could help combat cancer and boost existing cancer treatment. The study was published in Cancer Medical Science.
The antimalarial drugs exhibited the exclusive potential to make tumour cells more sensitive to cancer treatment. The authors are highly anticipating the results and optimistically expecting a positive result in the treatment of cancer.
"What makes chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine so interesting is these multiple mechanisms of action," said lead author Ciska Verbaanderd of the Anticancer Fund and the University at Leuven, Belgium.
"These antimalarial drugs act on both the level of cancer cells and tumour microenvironment. Studying this has led to interesting scientific insights in tumour biology, such as the importance of autophagy, the tumour vasculature and the immune system," said Ciska.
The study revealed that antimalarial drugs could use as a significant clinical benefit for cancer patients. Standard anticancer treatment combined with antimalarial could be used effectively to remove cancer cells, claimed study.
"We look forward with much anticipation to the results of the 30 or so ongoing clinical studies that use chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for cancer treatment," said Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD ScD, co-founder of Global Cures.
The researchers are hoping that this study would bring an increased awareness of the possible use of the drug and help in bringing these medications out of the medicine cabinet to use it for cancer treatment.
Researchers from the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) projects which is in collaboration with the Anticancer Fund, Belgium, and USA-based GlobalCures, stated that antimalarial drugs could be used in further clinical investigation.
ReDO project has initially explored how low-cost drugs such as beta-blockers and anti-fungal remedies could be incorporated for cancer treatment.
