Repurposing Phenytoin and Its Derivatives for Ovarian Cancer Management: Current Insights and Future Directions
Keywords:
Phenytoin, Hydantoin derivatives, Ovarian cancer, Drug repurposing, Sodium channels, Apoptosis, Nano-drug delivery, ChemoresistanceAbstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious gynecological malignancies because most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options become limited. Although surgery and chemotherapy remain the primary treatments, many patients eventually develop resistance to drugs such as cisplatin and paclitaxel, resulting in poor long-term outcomes. Drug repurposing has gained attention as an effective strategy because it allows the use of existing approved medicines for new therapeutic purposes, reducing both development time and cost. Phenytoin, traditionally used as an antiepileptic drug, has shown promising anticancer effects by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, reducing tumor cell invasion, and inducing apoptosis in various cancer types. Hydantoin derivatives, structurally related to phenytoin, also demonstrate enhanced cytotoxicity and better molecular targeting. This review provides an overview of current insights into the potential role of phenytoin and its derivatives in managing ovarian cancer, highlighting their mechanisms of action, preclinical evidence, limitations, and future therapeutic opportunities.
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