Repurposed Drugs & Integrative Cancer Care (2026)

By Editorial Team -

An evidence‑aware guide to off‑label cancer therapies, integrative oncology, and emerging research — without hype or false promises.

This page serves as the central hub for OneDayMD’s coverage of repurposed drugs in cancer care, integrating conventional oncology standards with systems biology, real‑world data, and ethical analysis.

What This Hub Covers (Quick Overview)

This hub explains:

  • What repurposed drugs are — and what they are not.

  • Which drugs show credible anti‑cancer signals vs speculation.

  • How repurposed therapies may (or may not) integrate with standard oncology.

  • The evidence hierarchy used across OneDayMD.

  • Safety, ethics, and regulatory realities.

It is designed for patients, clinicians, and researchers seeking clarity rather than promotion.

Diverse cancer hallmarks targeted by repurposed non-oncology drugs. This figure was created with Biorender.com. Source: Nature 2024

Executive Summary

Repurposed drugs in cancer care refer to existing, FDA‑approved medications originally developed for non‑cancer indications that show potential anti‑cancer effects through epidemiological signals, mechanistic pathways, real‑world data, or early clinical trials. Interest has surged due to rising cancer incidence, plateauing outcomes in late‑stage disease, escalating oncology drug costs, and advances in systems biology and AI‑driven drug discovery.

This pillar provides a structured, evidence‑graded framework to evaluate repurposed cancer drugs without hype or dismissal. It distinguishes signal from speculation, integrates conventional oncology standards, and clarifies where integrative approaches may complement — but not replace — standard of care.

Why Repurposed Drugs Matter in Oncology

1. The Economic and Clinical Reality

  • Novel oncology drugs often exceed $100,000–$300,000 per year

  • Median survival benefits in advanced cancers are frequently measured in months

  • Many repurposed drugs are off‑patent, inexpensive, and globally available

2. Biology Has Outpaced Drug Development

Cancer is now understood as a systems disease involving:

  • Metabolic dysregulation

  • Immune evasion

  • Inflammation

  • Microbiome interactions

  • Mitochondrial dysfunction

Most classic chemotherapy agents target cell division alone, leaving other cancer hallmarks unaddressed.

3. Real‑World Evidence Is Generating Hypotheses

Observational data repeatedly show unexpected cancer outcomes in patients taking certain non‑oncology drugs — prompting deeper investigation.

Evidence Hierarchy Used in This Guide

Each repurposed drug discussed on OneDayMD is categorized using the following framework:

  • 🟢 High Evidence: Multiple RCTs or meta‑analyses with clinical endpoints

  • 🟡 Moderate Evidence: Observational studies, strong mechanistic support, early trials

  • 🔴 Preliminary Evidence: Case reports, in‑vitro/in‑vivo studies only

  • ⚠️ Anecdotal: Testimonials without reproducible data

This hierarchy is essential to prevent overinterpretation and to guide ethical decision‑making.

Core Classes of Repurposed Cancer Drugs

1. Antiparasitic & Anthelmintic Agents

Fenbendazole

Original use: Veterinary anthelmintic

Proposed mechanisms:

  • Microtubule destabilization

  • Impaired glucose uptake

  • Mitochondrial stress induction

Evidence level: 🔴 Preliminary

  • In‑vitro and animal data

  • Case reports and anecdotal human use

  • No completed randomized human cancer trials

Key risks:

  • Lack of human dosing data

  • Hepatotoxicity reports

  • Unknown long‑term safety

Fenbendazole remains hypothesis‑generating only and should not be conflated with clinically validated therapies.

Mebendazole

Original use: Human antiparasitic

Proposed mechanisms:

  • Tubulin inhibition

  • Anti‑angiogenesis

  • Hedgehog pathway interference

Evidence level: 🟡 Moderate

  • Multiple preclinical cancer models

  • Small clinical trials in glioblastoma and brain tumors

  • Favorable human safety profile

Mebendazole is among the most biologically plausible repurposed candidates, though still not standard of care.

Ivermectin

Original use: Antiparasitic

Proposed mechanisms:

  • Inhibition of WNT/β‑catenin signaling

  • Mitochondrial dysfunction

  • Immunomodulation

Evidence level: 🟡 Moderate

  • Extensive preclinical oncology literature

  • Epidemiologic signals

  • No definitive oncology RCTs

Caution is warranted due to dose‑dependent toxicity and extrapolation beyond approved indications.

2. Metabolic & Endocrine Modulators

Metformin

Original use: Type 2 diabetes

Mechanisms:

  • AMPK activation

  • mTOR suppression

  • Insulin/IGF‑1 reduction

Evidence level: 🟡→🟢 Moderate to High

  • Strong epidemiological cancer risk reduction

  • Multiple cancer‑specific trials ongoing

  • Favorable safety profile

Metformin represents one of the strongest repurposing success stories in oncology research.

Statins

Original use: Hyperlipidemia

Mechanisms:

  • Mevalonate pathway inhibition

  • Reduced prenylation of oncogenic proteins

Evidence level: 🟡 Moderate

  • Mixed RCT results

  • Strong observational mortality reduction signals

Benefit appears context‑dependent by cancer type and statin class.

3. Anti‑Inflammatory & Immune‑Modulating Agents

Aspirin

Mechanisms:

  • COX‑2 inhibition

  • Platelet‑mediated metastasis reduction

Evidence level: 🟢 High (specific cancers)

  • Colorectal cancer prevention and recurrence reduction

  • Bleeding risk limits universal use

4. Anti‑Angiogenic & Anti‑Fibrotic Drugs

Propranolol

Original use: Beta‑blocker

Mechanisms:

  • Stress hormone suppression

  • Angiogenesis inhibition

Evidence level: 🟡 Moderate

  • Strong data in angiosarcoma

  • Ongoing trials in breast and melanoma

Repurposed Drugs vs Standard Oncology Care

Critical principle:

Repurposed drugs are adjunctive candidates, not replacements for surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

Situations where repurposed drugs are studied:

  • Maintenance therapy

  • Treatment‑resistant disease

  • Synergy with immunotherapy

  • Risk reduction and recurrence prevention

Integrative Oncology: Where It Fits

Integrative cancer care combines:

  • Evidence‑based lifestyle interventions

  • Nutritional optimization

  • Exercise oncology

  • Selected supplements with mechanistic rationale

  • Psychosocial and stress modulation

Not integrative oncology:

  • Abandoning proven treatments

  • Relying solely on anecdotes

  • Ignoring toxicity and interactions

Safety, Ethics, and Regulatory Reality

Off‑Label Use

  • Legal but physician‑directed

  • Requires informed consent

  • Lacks pharmaceutical company liability

Key Risks

  • Drug–drug interactions

  • False hope and treatment delay

  • Online misinformation ecosystems

Ethical Standard

Any exploration of repurposed drugs must satisfy:

  • Transparent uncertainty disclosure

  • Continuous reassessment

  • Alignment with patient values

The Role of AI and In‑Silico Trials

AI is accelerating repurposing by:

  • Pattern recognition in large datasets

  • Drug–pathway matching

  • Virtual clinical trial simulation

However:

  • AI does not replace human trials

  • Bias and data quality remain limiting factors

Who Should Consider Learning About Repurposed Drugs?

  • Patients seeking informed discussions with oncologists

  • Clinicians exploring adjunctive research

  • Researchers developing low‑cost oncology strategies

Who should not self‑prescribe:

  • Newly diagnosed patients without oncology consultation

  • Individuals delaying curative treatment

Bottom Line

Repurposed drugs represent a legitimate research frontier, not a miracle cure. Some candidates (metformin, aspirin) are nearing mainstream integration; others remain speculative. Responsible engagement requires evidence literacy, humility, and strict adherence to ethical medical practice.

This pillar serves as the foundation for all repurposed oncology content on OneDayMD.

Start Here: Core Guides & Deep Dives

Foundational Guides

Drug‑Specific Deep Dives

Who This Hub Is For

This page is useful if you are:

  • A patient seeking informed conversations with your oncology team

  • A clinician exploring adjunctive research responsibly

  • A researcher or analyst studying low‑cost oncology strategies

This page is not a substitute for:

  • Oncology consultation

  • Individualized treatment decisions

  • Emergency or curative care

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