Chloroquine against malaria, cancers and viral diseases

• Published in: Drug discovery today Vol. 25; no. 11; pp. 2012 - 2022
• Main Authors: Zhou, Wenmin, Wang, Hui, Yang, Yuqi, Chen, Zhe-Sheng, Zou, Chang, Zhang, Jianye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Review
• ISSN: 1359-6446; 1878-5832; 1878-5832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.010

The pleiotropic effects of chloroquine that including anti-malaria, anti-cancer and anti-viral diseases, which is linked with inhibition of autophagy, tumor vascular normalization, lysosomotropic and immunomodulatory property. ▪ [Display omitted] •Chloroquine is used for anti-malaria, anti-cancer and anti-virus treatment.•The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19 is controversial.•Several quinoline derivatives are effective for malarial treatment.•Repurposing drugs is emerging strategy for chloroquine to develop new indications. Quinoline (QN) derivatives are often used for the prophylaxis and treatment of malaria. Chloroquine (CQ), a protonated, weakly basic drug, exerts its antimalarial effect mainly by increasing pH and accumulating in the food vacuole of the parasites. Repurposing CQ is an emerging strategy for new indications. Given the inhibition of autophagy and its immunomodulatory action, CQ shows positive efficacy against cancer and viral diseases, including Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we review the underlying mechanisms behind the antimalarial, anticancer and antiviral effects of CQ. We also discuss the clinical evidence for the use of CQ and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) against COVID-19. As a 4-aminoquinoline and a protonated, weakly basic drug, chloroquine shows great potential in the treatment of malaria, cancers and viral diseases, including COVID-19.