Although anthelmintics, such as fenbendazole, are sometimes used to treat cancer in animals, there is no proof that they can cure humans. While some peer-reviewed studies have found that these drugs could help treat cancer, they have not yet been approved by the FDA.
Developing new drugs takes a lot of time, money, and effort. However, repurposing existing veterinary drugs is one way to save time and resources.
It kills cancer cells
Although there are some reports that fenbendazole can kill cancer cells, it’s not clear whether it can cure humans. The FDA hasn’t approved it for use in treating human cancer, and no peer-reviewed studies have found that it can treat or prevent human cancer. The National Cancer Institute also hasn’t confirmed that fenbendazole is effective in curing cancer.
A 2021 press release from Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that a drug called mebendazole, which belongs to the same family as fenbendazole, could slow pancreatic cancer growth in mice. Another drug from this group, albendazole, showed similar results in a test tube study. Both drugs are used as antiparasitic agents and belong to a group of medicines known as benzimidazole carbamate.
The repurposing of anthelminthic agents as anticancer agents has been a popular trend in the pharmaceutical industry. It has been shown that benzimidazole carbamate drugs can reduce tumor growth in mice and induce cellular death by targeting multiple cellular pathways. These drugs can also overcome drug resistance, which is a major challenge in the treatment of cancer.
In addition, these drugs can help treat autoimmune disorders. Some research suggests that fenbendazole might be able to help cancer patients with anecdotal stories of remission. However, it’s important to note that there are many other possible causes of Joe Tippens’ remission, including conventional cancer treatments. In order to determine whether fenbendazole can prevent recurrent cancer, randomized controlled trials must be conducted.
It kills parasites
A popular video on TikTok and Facebook claims that fenbendazole, a drug used to treat parasitic diseases in dogs and cats, cures cancer. Although this drug shows promise in preclinical studies, it is still not approved for human use. Furthermore, it is not a safe alternative to other conventional cancer treatments.
The drug works by interfering with the formation of strands of a protein called tubulin. This is the protein scaffold that gives cells their shape and structure. Textbook depictions of cells show them as amorphous bags of liquid, but cells actually form shapes and structures to transport organelles and cargo. These structures are anchored by microtubules, which are made from the same protein as tubulin. Drugs that interfere with microtubule activity block important cellular functions, such as cell division.
Moreover, the drug inhibits glucose uptake by cancer cells, reducing their energy supply and making them less capable of growing. In addition, it may reactivate the p53 gene inside the genome of cancer cells, which is known to suppress tumor growth.
However, Tippens’ anecdotal experience is not scientifically valid and it isn’t clear if the fenbendazole was responsible for his remission. There could have been other factors that contributed to his remission, such as the conventional cancer treatments he received. In order to arrive at more reliable conclusions, randomized controlled trials with a large number of patients should be performed.
It prevents recurrence
The benzimidazole drug fenbendazole induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by triggering p53-dependent autophagy, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. It also inhibits glucose uptake. Cells with wild-type p53 exhibit higher sensitivity to fenbendazole than cells with mutant p53.
In a recent study, researchers found that high doses of fenbendazole reduced the viability of hypoxic EMT6 colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The tumor growth of irradiated EMT6 tumors treated with different doses of fenbendazole was rigorously measured. The results showed that the treatment caused a significant reduction in tumor growth, but did not affect the viability of unirradiated tumors.
Scientists also found that fenbendazole interfered with the normal mitosis process, causing cancer cells to undergo anaphase and metaphase. This is important because mitosis is required for cell division, ensuring that chromosomes are evenly separated during cell division. This finding suggests that fenbendazole might help prevent the formation of malignant tumors by disrupting the mitosis process.
Several studies have shown that fenbendazole can prevent the recurrence of some types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, lung, and colorectal cancers. However, more research is needed before the drug can be used to treat humans. Moreover, there are other factors that may have contributed to Tippens’ remission, including conventional cancer treatments he received and the fact that his anecdotal experience isn’t representative of all cancer patients.
It is safe
According to a new study published in Scientific Reports, the veterinarian drug fenbendazole can be effective against cancer. The research was conducted by researchers from the National Centre for Human Genome Studies and Research (NCHGSR). The study found that fenbendazole slows tumor growth in cell cultures and animals. The researchers also found that fenbendazole interacts with multiple cell signaling pathways. This can help overcome resistance to single-target drugs.
The researchers found that fenbendazole inhibits cancer cells’ ability to absorb and use glucose. This can lead to apoptosis and cell death. They also found that fenbendazole interferes with the synthesis of protein kinases and mitotic regulators. In addition, fenbendazole reduces the number of mitochondria in cancer cells. This makes the cells less able to survive under low oxygen conditions.
In addition to affecting the cell cycle, fenbendazole can also alter the tumor microenvironment and affect cancer stem cells. It can also increase the effectiveness of other anticancer agents. This may be important in the treatment of recurrent or aggressive cancers.
The results of the study should be interpreted with caution, as there is no evidence that fenbendazole can cure cancer in humans. In order to arrive at more reliable conclusions, randomized controlled trials should be performed first. This will ensure that the results are unbiased and valid. In addition, the results should be verified in independent studies. fenbendazole for humans cancer