Ankara Universitesi Eczacilik Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.50, sa.2, ss.398-408, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
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.