Comparative Evaluation of the Anticancer Efficacy of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Across Diverse Cancer Cell Lines
Durgesh Soni1,2, Mohd Hasan Mujahid1,3, Vijay Jagdish Upadhye1★★ Corresponding author
- 1Department of Life Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences and Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA.
- 2Department of Pharmacology, Sun Pharma Advanced Research Co. Ltd., Savli G.I.D.C. Estate, Savli, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA.
- 3Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, INDIA.
CORRESPONDENCE
Vijay Jagdish Upadhye
Department of Life Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences and Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA.
Received: 12-01-2026; Revised: 03-02-2026; Accepted: 27-03-2026.
Volume 60, Issue 3S · pp. s1087–s1104 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.5530/ijper.20262146
ABSTRACT
Background: Cancer treatment faces significant challenges due to limited success with conventional therapies. Drug repurposing-identifying new applications for existing drugs—offers a promising strategy to expand therapeutic options. This study aims to evaluate and compare thein vitro anticancer potential of three fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin) across multiple human cancer cell lines, marking the first comparative analysis of their efficacy. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity assays were employed to assess the antiproliferative effects of ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin on triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), Prostate Cancer (PC3), Glioblastoma (U87), and Ovarian Cancer (SCOV3) cell lines. The experimental design focused on quantifying dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Results: All three fluoroquinolones demonstrated anticancer activity, but moxifloxacin exhibited superior antiproliferative effects compared to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin across all tested cell lines. Dose-response analyses revealed consistent inhibitory patterns, with moxifloxacin achieving the highest reduction in cancer cell viability. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of fluoroquinolones, particularly moxifloxacin, as adjunctive agents in cancer therapy. The findings underscore the value of drug repurposing for oncology and warrant further investigations into synergistic effects with standard chemotherapeutic regimens. Future studies should prioritizein vivo validation and combinatorial efficacy assessments to optimize clinical translation.
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Soni, D., Mujahid, M. H., & Upadhye, V. J. (2026). Comparative Evaluation of the Anticancer Efficacy of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Across Diverse Cancer Cell Lines. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 60(3S), s1087–s1104. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.20262146