Cancer Drugs Inhibit Germ Tube Elongation in Candida albicans

Aim: Hyphal forms of human fungal pathogen Candida albicans play a major role in infection process. During mucosal infections, they invade epithelial and endothelial cells and cause damage probably through the release of hydrolytic enzymes. Targeting yeast to hyphal form morphogenetic switching may be useful against invasive candidiasis. In this study, we report the germ tube elongation inhibitory properties of thirty cancer drugs from 12 different classes.
Methodology: Candida albicans, ATCC 90028 was used throughout the study and Candida filamentation assay was performed on polystyrene coated 96-well microtitre plates.
Results: Most of the drugs inhibited elongation at concentrations lower than their minimum Inhibitory Concentration. These concentrations were much lower than prescribed doses. The drugs were found to inhibit Candida growth at higher concentrations, suggesting that chemotherapy with anticancer drugs may not favor invasive candidiasis caused by C. albicans.
Conclusion: Our study indicates the possibility of repositioning cancer drugs as anti-morphogenetic agents in C. albicans.