Fenbendazole, a medication commonly used to treat parasites and worms in dogs, has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory. However, there is not sufficient evidence that it can cure cancer in humans.
In vitro, fenbendazole (FZ) showed time-dependent anti-proliferative effects on SNU-C5 and SNU-C5/5-FUR CRC cells through moderate microtubule disruption, p53 activation and interference with glucose uptake by inhibiting hexokinase II (HKII). It also promoted necroptosis in both cell lines.
1. Fenbendazole is a potent anticancer agent
Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic drug that can also kill cancer cells. This is due to its ability to cause cancer cells to die via ferroptosis. It also interferes with glucose uptake, which can be used as a source of energy for cancer cells.
The drug works by interfering with the formation of microtubules, a protein that provides structure to cells. Cells that don’t have properly formed microtubules can’t line up at the metaphase phase of cell division, so they can’t evenly separate their chromosomes.
This can lead to the death of cancer cells, which may cause them to lose their ability to grow and survive. However, it’s important to note that fenbendazole hasn’t gone through any clinical trials and isn’t approved as a cancer treatment for humans. This is why it’s important to check with a specialist cancer information nurse before starting any new drugs.
2. Fenbendazole is a potent anticancer agent
The drug fenbendazole is an antihelminth that has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in cell cultures and animals. It also appears to increase the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs. However, there is not enough evidence from randomized trials to show that it can cure cancer in humans.
Textbook depictions of cells commonly portray what appear to be various cellular components floating in amorphous bags of liquid. But in fact, a highly dynamic protein scaffold called the cytoskeleton gives cells structure and establishes their shape. It is composed of microtubules, which are made up of a protein called tubulin. Drugs that interfere with the formation of microtubules can disrupt these processes and prevent the cell from dividing.
We used EMT6 mammary carcinoma cells in culture and as solid tumors in mice to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of fenbendazole alone or in combination regimens with radiation, docetaxel and/or vinca alkaloids. Inhibition of tumor growth was evaluated using tumor volume measurements and comparing the times it took for each tumor to grow from its initial volume to four times that size. Maximally intensive treatment with fenbendazole did not alter tumor growth or increase the toxicity of the other agents, but it did enhance the synergistic cytotoxicity of radiation and docetaxel.
3. Fenbendazole is a potent anticancer agent
Fenbendazole interferes with the formation of microtubules, a protein scaffold that gives cells their shape and structure. It also affects cell cycle progression, preventing the transition from G2 to metaphase by inhibiting the binding of cyclin B1 to CDK1, a key step in cell-cycle control.
In addition, fenbendazole reduces the glycolysis rate of cancer cells, thereby depriving them of their primary energy source. This deprivation triggers apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death that also kills tumor cells.
Despite its promising results in cells and animals, there is no evidence that fenbendazole can cure cancer. It has not undergone any clinical trials in people. Specialist cancer information nurses from Cancer Research UK have warned against buying fenbendazole online, as it may not be safe and could harm you. They have said that it is important to talk to your GP or cancer specialist nurse before taking any treatment. They have also stressed that there is no evidence that fenbendazole will prevent recurrent cancers, which can occur as a result of established treatments such as chemotherapy.
4. Fenbendazole is a potent anticancer agent
Inhibition of microtubule polymerization by fenbendazole leads to apoptosis in cancer cells. Cells establish their shape and structure through the cytoskeleton, which is comprised of tubulin. Fenbendazole blocks the formation of these tubulin structures, which interferes with the movement of cellular components. This prevents the cell from reaching its target and halts the progression of the cell cycle.
Malignant cells rely on glucose uptake for energy, and preventing the uptake of this nutrient has become an important strategy in anticancer therapy. We tested whether fenbendazole can block glucose uptake in human cancer cells and found that it does.
We also found that fenbendazole can induce apoptosis in 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells. The apoptosis was mediated by mitochondrial injury and caspase-3-PARP pathways. Benzimidazole compounds have historically been used as parasiticidal agents, and our findings suggest that these drugs could also be useful in the treatment of cancer. However, there are several caveats to consider. Tippens’ anecdotal experience may have been due to other factors, and randomized clinical trials would be needed to determine whether fenbendazole is effective against cancer in humans.fenben cancer treatment