H1 Antihistamines—Promising Candidates for Repurposing in the Context of the Development of New Therapeutic Approaches to Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The repurposing of old drugs has become an alternative strategy for the de novo synthesis of drugs for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. This review focuses on existing information concerning the antitumor activity of H1 antihistamines, especially new-generation drugs originally intended for anti-allergic therapy, providing new insights into their potential use in oncology. In the context of a multi-targeted approach for the treatment of cancer, attention was given to data on the signaling pathways and cellular mechanisms in which these drugs may be involved. In order to understand the importance of antihistamines as good candidates for repurposing, this article addresses general issues related to the problems of oncological treatment, the desirable characteristics of a potential anticancer drug, and the role of histamine and its receptors, especially the H1R receptor, in the development and progression of cancer.