Episode # 145 • 30 Nov 2023
Understanding Drug Repurposing in Head & Neck Cancer
In this podcast, Dr. Gopi Shah invites Dr. Nicole Schmitt, an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Emory University to discuss drug repurposing for head and neck cancer.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
08:40 - Statins and NSAIDs for Head and Neck Cancer
12:18 - Enhancing Tumor Control With Pre-Surgery Drugs
22:14 - Treatment of Pre-Malignant Lesions With Repurposed Drugs
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More about this episode
Dr. Schmitt explains that drug repurposing involves using a drug developed for one purpose for an entirely different purpose. She highlights some of the main drugs being repurposed for head and neck cancer treatment, including statins and NSAIDs. For example, Dr. Schmitt shares how manipulating cholesterol levels can enhance antineoplastic T lymphocyte responses to increase survival and treatment tolerability. The surgeons then consider the therapeutic, safety, and financial benefits of repurposed drugs. Special attention is given to drug repurposing in HPV-positive cancer. Lastly, Dr. Schmitt describes the pleiotropic effect and how it applies to drug repurposing efforts.
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