Immunosuppressive drugs and cancer risk

Abstract

The use of immunosuppressive medications is an area of interest for organ transplantation. These medications have been repurposed for the treatment of cancer in recent years. In the context of cancer therapy, the use of immunosuppressive medications such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, mycophenolate acid mofetil (MMF), mycophenolate, and azathioprine is discussed. Treatment for cancer frequently includes methods designed to use the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells can, however, avoid immune surveillance and eradication because the tumor microenvironment frequently has immune-suppressive components. Drugs that suppress the immune system, which were initially designed to avoid organ rejection, have demonstrated potential for obstructing these inhibitory pathways and boosting antitumour immune responses. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine, two immunosuppressive medications frequently used in transplantation, have potential anticancer effects. The immune system and stifling tumor-promoting inflammatory responses, can prevent tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Another immunosuppressive drug, sirolimus, has shown anticancer effects by reducing angiogenesis and tumor cell growth while promoting immune-mediated tumors. Mycophenolate medicines, such as MMF and mycophenolate, have strong immunosuppressive properties. By inhibiting the enzymes responsible for purine production, these enzymes aim to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. By altering immune cell function and reducing tumor growth, these medications have demonstrated promise in the treatment of cancer. Azathioprine, a medication that suppresses the immune system and is frequently used to treat autoimmune illnesses, has also been investigated as a possible cancer treatment. Although immunosuppressive medications have potential in the treatment of cancer, their usage needs to be carefully addressed due to potential side effects and the delicate balance between immune suppression and antitumour action. The immune system plays a crucial role in identifying and eliminating abnormal cells, including those associated with cancer.