Anecdotal evidence suggests that fenbendazole for humans cancer an anti-parasitic drug used in veterinary medicine, could kill cancer cells. It interferes with the formation of mitotic spindles and the separation of chromosomes during cell division. It also reduces glucose uptake in cancer cells.
Although some studies of cancer cells in Petri dishes and mice suggest fenbendazole may have some value, there is no sufficient evidence that it can cure cancer in humans.
Effect on glucose uptake in cancer cells
Researchers at the City of Hope in California are studying a new drug that can stop cancer cells from growing by interfering with how they form microtubules, a protein scaffolding that gives cells their shape and structure. They’re hoping to develop a treatment that works like a watchful homeowner who shuts the water off when a tub is overflowing. The team’s work shows that the drugs they’re testing, called fenbendazole and vorinostat, interfere with these proteins and cause cancer cells to die.
Cells establish their shape and structure through a protein scaffolding called the cytoskeleton, which is comprised of microtubules. They’re dynamic and constantly assemble and disassemble to perform various tasks, such as separating chromosomes during the mitosis phase of cell division. Microtubules are made of a protein called tubulin, and they’re essential for cellular activity and growth. Drugs that interfere with microtubule formation prevent the chromosomes from separating evenly, and this blocks important cell functions.
A recent study found that fenbendazole, which is used to treat parasites in animals, also destroys human cancer cells and reactivates the p53 tumor suppressor gene. The results were published in Scientific Reports. Despite these findings, there is still no evidence that anthelmintics cure cancer in humans. As Health Feedback has previously reported, anecdotal reports of patients cured by fenbendazole are misleading because they’re often not adequately supported by medical evidence.
Action on microtubules
Fenbendazole (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate) is a benzimidazole compound with broad antiparasitic activity. It works by binding to b-tubulin microtubule subunits and inhibiting their polymerization. This mechanism is similar to that of cytotoxic anticancer agents such as the vinca alkaloids and taxanes.
The researchers used human lung cancer cells and found that fenbendazole reduced glucose uptake in them by blocking the formation of glycogen in the cell. This action was mediated by a reduction in the size of microtubules. The drug also induced apoptosis in the cancer cells, which was mediated by its action on the p53 tumour suppressor gene.
Microtubules are important for cell division. They separate the duplicated chromosomes in a process called mitosis, allowing even distribution of the chromosomes to each daughter cell. In addition, microtubules provide structural support for the cytoskeleton and give shape to cells.
Researchers compared the effect of fenbendazole on cancer cells to that of colchicine, another molecule that interferes with microtubules. They found that fenbendazole bound to the microtubules in the same way as colchicine, but it had a more potent and selective effect. In addition, fenbendazole did not have toxic effects on normal cells. This suggests that it could be a valuable new cancer treatment.
Action on p53
Fenbendazole is a drug that destroys the microtubules that keep cancer cells alive and keeps them from processing sugar. It also boosts the production of p53, which can stop cancer cells from growing and spreading. Its mechanism of action is similar to that of paclitaxel and vincristine, two drugs that have been successfully tested in randomized clinical trials.
Researchers studied the effect of fenbendazole on a human cancer cell line with a p53 mutation. They found that fenbendazole reduced the number of surviving cancer cells in a time-dependent manner. The effect was not affected by the presence of irradiation or other chemotherapeutic agents. The results suggest that fenbendazole can be used as an independent therapy to treat p53-mutant cancers.
It is believed that fenbendazole acts on the p53 tumor suppressor protein by blocking the binding of phosphorylated mRK2. This activity prevents the activation of mRK2, which leads to the bypass of the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint and a decrease in genomic stability. The fenbendazole molecule also interferes with the binding of phosphatidylinositol to mRK2. This activity also contributes to the inhibition of glucose uptake.
In experiments examining the effects of hypoxia on fenbendazole cytotoxicity, cultures were placed in glass culture bottles and made hypoxic by sealing them with rubber gaskets, inserting needles for the influx and efflux of gases, and gassing them with a mixture of 95% nitrogen/5% carbon dioxide containing 1 ppm oxygen. The toxicity of 2-h treatments was determined by measuring the number of viable cells in each culture.
Effect on cancer cell survival
Fenbendazole is a compound that interferes with microtubules. It has been shown to be effective in cancer cells in the laboratory, but it has not been proven that it can cure humans. TikTok and Facebook posts claiming that fenbendazole can cure cancer cite an anecdotal story of a man who claims to have beat his cancer by taking this drug. However, it is important to note that Joe Tippens was also receiving conventional treatment in a clinical trial at the time of his remission.
In a study, mice with a tumor-bearing lung adenocarcinoma were treated with three i.p. injections of fenbendazole or a placebo. Tumors were then irradiated with 10 Gy of x-rays, and the number of dead tumor cells was measured after each treatment. The results showed that fenbendazole reduced tumor growth in mice with EMT6 cancer cells and inhibited the proliferation of irradiated tumors.
Other research shows that anthelmintics, drugs used to treat parasites in animals, could have anti-cancer properties. However, the process of turning animal anthelmintics into approved medicines can be a long one. Even though Jones has been open about his conflicts, he still has ties with CVBC and has not severd those ties. Despite his claims, there is no evidence that fenbendazole can prevent recurrent cancer in people. In fact, there is no evidence that a single treatment can cure any type of cancer.