Teaching an old dog new tricks: drug repositioning in small cell lung cancer

Cancer Discov. 2013 Dec;3(12):1333-5. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-13-0790.

Abstract

Jahchan and colleagues report the use of a biostatistical analysis to identify effective therapeutics for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Their results reveal a new use for the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine in SCLC and shed light on the therapeutic potential of drug repositioning in cancer and other diseases.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled