Journals / Ankara Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 50 Sayı: 2

EXPANDING REMDESIVIR’S THERAPEUTIC SPECTRUM FROM ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES TO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY THROUGH MTOR INHIBITION

REMDESİVİRİN TERAPÖTİK SPEKTRUMUNUN MTOR İNHİBİSYONU ARACILIĞIYLA ANTIVİRAL ÖZELLİKLERDEN ANTİKANSER AKTİVİTESİNE GENİŞLETİLMESİ

Zeynep Büşra Aksoy(ANKARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, KÖK HÜCRE ENSTİTÜSÜ, KÖK HÜCRE VE YENİLEYİCİ TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-8288-0974
Gökçe Yağmur Summak(ANKARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, KÖK HÜCRE ENSTİTÜSÜ, KÖK HÜCRE VE YENİLEYİCİ TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-6274-3385
Mehmet Altay Ünal(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF STEM CELL)0000-0001-8607-5043
Açelya Yılmazer Aktuna(ANKARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, KÖK HÜCRE ENSTİTÜSÜ, KÖK HÜCRE VE YENİLEYİCİ TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-2712-7450
Mustafa Güzel(ANKARA MEDİPOL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-1423-0435
Pages
398–408
Publication Date
2026-05-19
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, this study underscores the promise of computational drug repurposing in expediting the discovery of targeted therapies.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: The dysregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a prominent feature of various cancers, rendering it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
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Key Findings & Data:While some mTOR inhibitors have been employed in cancer treatment, their use is often associated with significant complications.
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, this study underscores the promise of computational drug repurposing in expediting the discovery of targeted therapies.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antikanser ilaç geliştirme · ilaç yeniden hedefleme · mTOR inhibisyonu

Abstract

Objective: The dysregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a prominent feature of various cancers, rendering it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. While some mTOR inhibitors have been employed in cancer treatment, their use is often associated with significant complications. Here, we propose a novel approach to drug repurposing, focusing on Remdesivir, a known antiviral agent, as a potential mTOR inhibitor for cancer therapy. Material and Method: In this study to evaluate the effect of Remdesivir on mTOR patway we performed in silico molecular docking and in vitro experiments including MTT, ELISA, qPCR, and Western Blotting with Caco2 colorectal cancer cells. Result and Discussion: Through computational analyses, we conducted in-silico screenings to identify Remdesivir's interaction with the mTOR protein. Our findings suggest promising binding affinity and molecular interactions, indicating the potential for Remdesivir to inhibit mTOR activity. To validate this hypothesis, we performed molecular experiments using Caco2 colorectal cancer cells to investigate Remdesivir's ability to suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical process in cancer metastasis, following mTOR inhibition. Our study represents a significant advancement in identifying new therapeutic targets using computational methodologies. Repurposing Remdesivir as an mTOR inhibitor offers a cost-effective and expedited approach to drug development, leveraging its known safety profile. Additionally, our findings suggest the potential for Remdesivir to reduce cancer progression by targeting the mTOR pathway and suppressing EMT-associated processes. Overall, this study underscores the promise of computational drug repurposing in expediting the discovery of targeted therapies. The successful validation of Remdesivir as an mTOR inhibitor paves the way for advanced preclinical and clinical investigations, providing a fresh perspective on cancer treatment and therapeutic innovation.

Özet

Amaç: Memelilerde rapamisin hedefi (mTOR) yolunun düzensizliği, çeşitli kanser türlerinde belirgin bir özelliktir ve bu da onu terapötik müdahaleler için cazip bir hedef haline getirir. Bazı mTOR inhibitörleri kanser tedavisinde kullanılmış olsa da bu ilaçların kullanımı genellikle önemli komplikasyonlarla ilişkilidir. Bu çalışmada, ilaç yeniden konumlandırmaya yönelik yeni bir yaklaşım öneriyoruz: bilinen bir antiviral ajan olan Remdesivir'in, kanser tedavisinde potansiyel bir mTOR inhibitörü olarak değerlendirilmesi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada Remdesivir'in mTOR yolağı üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek için in silico moleküler kenetlenme (docking) ve in vitro Caco2 kolorektal kanser hücreleri ile MTT, ELISA, qPCR ve Western Blotting yöntemleri ile analiz edilmiştir. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Hesaplamalı analizler yoluyla, Remdesivir’in mTOR proteini ile etkileşimini belirlemek amacıyla in-silico taramalar gerçekleştirdik. Bulgularımız, Remdesivir’in mTOR aktivitesini inhibe etme potansiyelini ortaya koyan umut verici bağlanma afinitesi ve moleküler etkileşimler göstermektedir. Bu hipotezi doğrulamak için, mTOR inhibisyonu sonrasında kanser metastazında kritik bir süreç olan epitel-mezenkimal geçişi (EMT) baskılayıp baskılamadığını incelemek üzere Caco2 kolorektal kanser hücreleri kullanılarak moleküler deneyler gerçekleştirildi. Çalışmamız, hesaplamalı yöntemlerle yeni terapötik hedeflerin belirlenmesinde önemli bir ilerleme sunmaktadır. Remdesivir’in mTOR inhibitörü olarak yeniden konumlandırılması, bilinen güvenlik profili sayesinde maliyet etkin ve hızlandırılmış bir ilaç geliştirme yaklaşımı sunmaktadır. Ayrıca, bulgularımız Remdesivir’in mTOR yolaklarını hedefleyerek ve EMT ile ilişkili süreçleri baskılayarak kanser ilerlemesini azaltma potansiyeline sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Genel olarak, bu çalışma, hedefe yönelik tedavilerin keşfini hızlandırmada hesaplamalı ilaç yeniden konumlandırmanın vaatlerini vurgulamaktadır. Remdesivir’in mTOR inhibitörü olarak başarılı şekilde doğrulanması, ileri düzey preklinik ve klinik araştırmaların önünü açmakta ve kanser tedavisinde yenilikçi bir bakış açısı sunmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Aksoy, Z. B., Summak, G. Y., Ünal, M. A., Aktuna, A. Y., Güzel, M. (2026). EXPANDING REMDESIVIR’S THERAPEUTIC SPECTRUM FROM ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES TO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY THROUGH MTOR INHIBITION. Ankara Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 50 Sayı: 2, 398–408. https://doi.org/10.33483/jfpau.1705845

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