In silico approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: Protocol for a scoping review of existing evidence

Abstract

Drug repurposing has been applied in the biomedical field to optimize the use of existing drugs, leading to a more efficient allocation of research resources. In oncology, this approach is particularly interesting, considering the high cost related to the discovery of new drugs with therapeutic potential. Computational methods have been applied to predict associations between drugs and their targets. However, drug repurposing has not always been promising and its efficiency has yet to be proven. Therefore, the present scoping review protocol was developed to screen the literature on how in silico strategies can be implemented in drug repurposing in oncology. The scoping review will be conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework (2005) and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. We will search the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We will include peer-reviewed research articles involving in silico strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2021. Data will be charted and findings described according to review questions. We will report the scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review guidelines (PRISMA-ScR).

In Silico Approaches to Polyherbal Synergy: Protocol for a Scoping Review

“…In silico approaches have proven to be significant in identifying novel drug candidates and repurposing existing drugs [ 12 , 18 , 19 ]. These studies have also been instrumental in shedding light on the likely mechanisms of action of single herbal drugs [ 20 ].…”

“…This scoping review protocol was developed according to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley [ 10 ] and complies with the recommendations of the JBI for elaborating scoping reviews [ 11 ]. A similar study from Brazil on in silico approaches in drug repurposing served as a guide in formulating this scoping review protocol [ 12 ]. This protocol has been registered with Open Science Framework [ 13 ] and is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline [ 14 ].…”

Use of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Models in Drug Assays for Anti-Cancer Agents in Oral Cancer: Protocol for a Scoping Review

“…The cost of securing new medication has more than doubled in ten years [31], and new compounds may take 10-15 years to become available to the public [30]. Aside from being time-consuming and costly, drug development in oncology maintains a low success rate, with under 5% of tested drugs reaching the pharmacy shelves and the average patient [30,32,33]. One of the challenges behind this process is the difficulty in the translation of research from the laboratory to clinical practice.…”

In silico approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: a scoping review

“…This scoping review followed the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and complies with the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute for elaborating scoping reviews ( Peters et al, 2015 ). The protocol has been previously published ( Cavalcante et al, 2022 ) and registered on the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/yx7kp ). Additionally, this review is reported following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews ( Supplementary File S1 ) ( Moher et al, 2015 ; Page et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The electronic search strategies were conducted on 22 March 2022. Details regarding the search strategies employed in each database were previously published ( Cavalcante et al, 2022 ).…”