Pharmacological Modulators of TCTP: Opportunities and Challenges for Drug Repurposing

Thanks to the rapid development of advanced analytical methods, researchers can now identify new, so far unknown applications for existing drugs. This expanding knowledge about the mechanisms of drug action, including interactions with various molecules and molecular pathways, not only enables more effective use of available therapies but also reduces both the time and cost of developing new therapeutic options. One of the proteins reported to interact with numerous drugs and chemicals is Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (TCTP). Numerous studies have demonstrated that TCTP plays a crucial role in diverse biological processes, including cell growth, cell cycle regulation, cellular proliferation, allergic reactions, stress response, inhibition of apoptosis, calcium ion binding, interacting with microtubules and actin microfilaments, the progression of various cancers, and tumor reversion. Therefore, this review article aims to compile a list of drugs and substances shown to interact with TCTP and that, given TCTP’s numerous cellular functions, could be repurposed for other therapies.