journal article·2024-10-22Open access

Novel Drug Combinations in Lung Cancer: New Potential Synergies Between 5-FU and Repurposed Drugs

Eduarda Ribeiro, Nuno Vale

Applied Sciences· Volume 14· Issue 21

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of combining 5-FU with repurposed drugs such as Sildenafil, Tezosentan, Levosimendan, and Resveratrol was investigated in lung cancer treatment using the A549 cell line. This study aimed to enhance 5-FU efficacy while mitigating side effects and overcoming drug resistance. The cytotoxic effects of 5-FU were assessed via MTT assay, with an IC50 value of 5.03 µM for A549 cells. Subsequent experiments evaluated the impact of combining 5-FU with the aforementioned drugs on cell viability, clonogenic potential, and morphology. The results demonstrated that while Sildenafil and Tezosentan modestly improved 5-FU efficacy, Levosimendan reduced cell viability by 40% (p < 0.01) and Resveratrol by over 50% (p < 0.001), with clonogenicity reduced by up to 60% (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that combining 5-FU with Levosimendan or Resveratrol offers promising approaches for lung cancer therapy, potentially reducing the need for higher doses of 5-FU and minimizing associated toxicity. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these interactions and assess their clinical relevance.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations · Lung Cancer Research Studies · Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

OncoPharma Research Group, Center of Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal

CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

Intitute os Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal

Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal

Funding

Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) · Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) · the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP)

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