Old molecules, new hope: A scoping review and bibliometric analysis of drug repurposing for lung cancer

Drug repurposing has gained prominence in oncology by enabling the investigation of approved drugs for new therapeutic purposes. In lung cancer, this strategy may reduce the time and costs associated with drug development. This study aimed to map the landscape of in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research on drug repurposing for lung cancer, while identifying key molecular targets and research gaps. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, following Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted the data. A total of 58 studies, published between 2010 and 2024-mainly from the United Kingdom (19%) and United States (17%), were included. Most studies used in vitro models (53%), followed by in vivo (31%) and in silico (16%), with frequent combinations of methods. The most investigated drug classes were antibiotics (10%), antipsychotics (9%), antidiabetics (8%), anthelmintics (6%), and antihistamines (6%). Frequently studied drugs included niclosamide, metformin, atorvastatin, and doxazosin, targeting pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, apoptosis, and autophagy. Bibliometric analysis revealed increasing scientific output, with emphasis on combination therapies, cellular mechanisms, and technologies like molecular docking and nanosystems. These findings highlight the growing relevance of drug repurposing in lung cancer, especially in accelerating effective therapy discovery using approved compounds. Progress in this field depends on integrating diverse methodologies and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. As a next step, rigorous clinical trials are essential to confirm the efficacy and safety of promising repurposed agents in oncology.