Table 1 Overview of clotrimazole's antitumor effects in different types of cancer.
Author(s), year and refs | Cancer type | Cancer cell lines | Main findings | Mechanism of action | Dosage and administration | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liu et al. 202213 | Hepatocellular carcinoma | MHCC-97H, SMCC 7721, Hep3B, HuH7 | Clotrimazole inhibits HCC cell migration and invasion | Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation and EMT | 20 μM clotrimazole in HCC cells | Clotrimazole inhibits HCC metastasis through the suppression of EMT via the ERK pathway |
Ochioni et al. 202114 | Melanoma | B16F10 | Clotrimazole inhibits tumor growth, reduces lactate levels in the tumor microenvironment, and decreases vascular endothelial growth factor expression | Inhibition of the PI3K pathway, reduction of glycolysis, and repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages cells | 200 mg/kg/day in vivo | Clotrimazole exerts anticancer effects by modulating the tumor microenvironment and TAM polarization |
Bae et al. 201815 | Breast cancer | MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 | Clotrimazole inhibited cell proliferation and invasiveness of breast cancer cells | Induction of apoptosis, G1 phase arrest, inhibition of MMP9 | 50 μM clotrimazole in breast cancer cells; 100 mg/kg/day in vivo | Clotrimazole shows strong antitumor activity. It has the potential to be repositioned as a cancer therapy |
Wang et al. 201416 | Oral squamous cell carcinoma | CAL27, SCC25, UM1 | Clotrimazole inhibited cell viability, colony formation, induced apoptosis, and reduced tumor growth | Induction of G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax | 40 μM clotrimazole in vitro; 150 mg/kg/day in vivo | Clotrimazole shows potential as a therapeutic agent for OSCC by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell proliferation |
Adinolfi et al. 201532 | Melanoma | A375 | Clotrimazole induces cytotoxicity in A375 human melanoma cells, induces cell cycle arrest at the G1-S phase transition, and alters membrane-bound protein V responsiveness | Inhibits hexokinase, induces cell cycle arrest, induces apoptosis | 10 μM Clotrimazole in A375 Cells | Clotrimazole has a pro-apoptotic effect on melanoma cells |
Zuccolini et al. 202333 | Melanoma, pancreatic cancer | WM266-4, Panc-1 | Clotrimazole causes a decrease in cell viability and migration in WM266-4 and Panc-1 cells, independent of IK expression levels | IK Independence effect | 30 μM Clotrimazole in WM266-4 Cells | The effect of clotrimazole on cancer cells may be due to off-target effects on other cellular targets or blockade of IK channels located in intracellular organelles |
