Best Repurposed Drugs for Cancer

Best Repurposed Drugs for Cancer (Ranked by Evidence)- If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, understanding the disease, treatment options, and supportive therapies can help you make informed decisions and improve outcomes.

If you met with an oncologist, chances are he or she did not talk to you about the best repurposed drugs for cancer. I’m not being critical of conventional oncology by pointing this out. Almost every cancer therapy discussed on PeopleBeatingCancer.org is not a part of the conventional oncological lexicon.

Researching and writing about repurposed drugs as a possible cancer therapy is a departure for me. I’m used to researching and writing about:

I am a long-term survivor of multiple myeloma. My research and experience with evidence-based non-conventional therapies is the reason why I have lived in complete remission from my incurable blood cancer since achieving complete remission in early 1999. I have learned that the best way to manage cancers is to combine the best of conventional and evidence-based non-conventional therapies.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, if conventional cancer therapies worked consistently without side effects, there would be no need for PeopleBeatingCancer.org.

My point is that there is growing research into repurposed drugs as cancer therapy, and therefore, they must be in this discussion.

By writing about repurposed drugs as a cancer therapy, I am simply highlighting the pros and cons, risks and benefits of the best repurposed drugs for cancer. While the research linked below may look enticing to some cancer patients, it’s important to keep in mind that one or two in vitro studies don’t necessarily indicate an anti-cancer therapy for you.

In fact, I think the complementary therapies listed below should be a must for every newly diagnosed cancer patient.

In addition, I have come to believe that therapy-induced side effects can be as life-threatening as the cancer while ruining the quality of life of the cancer patient.

Consider therapies shown to reduce possible side effects while enhancing the efficacy of your therapy. Scroll down the page and post a question or a comment if there’s anything you’d like to know about stomach cancer.

To see all of the cancer types that PeopleBeatingCancer covers, click now

Good luck,

David Emerson

Repurposed drugs for cancer

What are the most promising repurposed drugs for cancer?

The most studied repurposed drugs in cancer include metformin, statins, mebendazole, ivermectin, and disulfiram, based on preclinical and clinical research.

To Learn More About Repurposed Drugs for Cancer-

Tier 1 (Strongest Evidence)

Metformin

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193652332400072X

Statins

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10417177/

Tier 2 (Moderate Evidence)

Mebendazole

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6769799/

Disulfiram

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11188872/

Tier 3 (Emerging / Experimental)

Ivermectin

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7505114/

Fenbendazole

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29258902/

Key Insight

Repurposed drugs often work best:

In combination
Alongside standard therapies
As part of integrative oncology

Bottom Line

No repurposed drug is a cure—but several show meaningful potential when used appropriately

🥗 Nutrition & Diet (Mediterranean / Plant-Based)

Mediterranean diet improves survival in cancer patients (systematic review, 2025)
→ Higher adherence linked to reduced mortality and improved survival outcomes
Mediterranean diet and cancer survivorship (review)
→ Associated with lower breast and prostate cancer mortality (13–22%)
Mediterranean diet intervention reduces cancer-related fatigue (RCT)
→ Demonstrates improved fatigue and metabolic function during chemotherapy
Mediterranean diet and cancer prevention mechanisms (review)
→ Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may reduce tumor growth and metastasis
Diet, nutrition, and cancer prevention (World Cancer Research Fund report)
→ Strong evidence that diet + weight control + activity reduce cancer risk

🏃 Exercise & Physical Activity

Diet, exercise, and complementary therapies after cancer (Lancet review)
→ Exercise improves survival, physical function, and quality of life
Mediterranean diet and physical activity reduce cancer risk (review)
→ Combined lifestyle interventions can lower incidence and mortality
(Contextual supporting evidence)
→ Large cohort studies show fitness and muscle strength significantly reduce mortality risk in cancer patients

💊 Nutritional Supplements & Bioactive Compounds

(Note: Supplement evidence is often preclinical or adjunctive, but still important)

Diet and nutrigenomics in cancer (review)
→ Nutrients influence gene expression, cancer progression, and survival
Example mechanistic evidence:
Garlic / allium vegetables may reduce gastric cancer risk
Green tea polyphenols (EGCG) show anti-proliferative effects in models
Broader takeaway:
→ Anti-inflammatory nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-modulating compounds are biologically active against cancer pathways

🧘 Lifestyle Therapies (Weight, Behavior, Whole-Person Care)

Global evidence linking lifestyle and cancer outcomes (WCRF report)
→ Healthy weight, diet, and activity are key modifiable cancer risk factors
Diet, exercise, and survivorship care review
→ Lifestyle interventions improve long-term survivorship and reduce comorbidities
Additional insight:
→ Inflammation and nutrition status are strongly linked to cancer risk and progression
Best Repurposed Drugs for Cancer Best Repurposed Drugs for Cancer

Diagnosed with Cancer? Your two greatest challenges are understanding cancer and understanding possible side effects from chemo and radiation. Knowledge is Power!