Repurposing drugs in glioblastoma

Drug repurposing is a cost-effective strategy that can accelerate the time-consuming pace of translational research by identifying new purposes for older therapeutics. The limited drug options in glioblastoma (GB) in particular highlights the importance of this strategy in addressing the unmet needs of this patient population. Characterization of the molecular alterations in gliomagenesis has helped provide several repurposing avenues for cancer drugs previously tested in systemic malignancies. The recent advances in immunotherapy, namely with the identification of the robust anticancer properties of checkpoint inhibitors, has also led to novel repurposing strategies. Additionally, noncancer drugs have been and continue to be tested for their antiGB activity in preclinical and clinical settings. Here, we will provide a comprehensive review of the repurposed drugs, their advantages, and their pitfalls in GB treatment. We will also discuss how the full potential of this strategy can be better derived through a collaborative multidisciplinary approach between specialists in the fields of oncology, basic science research, pharmacology, bioinformatics, and statistics.