Fenbendazole is a widely used anthelmintic in both humans and animals. It has broad antiparasitic activity against various intestinal helminth parasites (ascarids, whipworms, hookworms, and a single species of tapeworm, Taenia pisiformis) in humans and dogs. It is also effective against nematodes and lungworms in dogs.
Recently, fenbendazole has gained popularity among cancer patients because of a report by Joe Tippens who claimed that he experienced remission from his non-small cell lung cancer after taking fenbendazole. However, despite the anecdotal evidence, fenbendazole isn’t a cure for cancer and there is no scientific proof that it is even capable of slowing down cancer cells in petri dishes or mice. There is also no evidence that it can do the same in human beings, and randomized clinical trials with large numbers of people would be required to make that determination.
The molecule fenbendazole has a broad antiparasitic spectrum, and it acts by binding to the b-tubulin microtubule subunits, disrupting their polymerization, and thus inhibiting tubulin microtubule formation in the cytoskeleton. It is similar in action to the cytotoxic anticancer drugs that act on microtubules, such as vinca alkaloids (vinblastine, vinorelbine, and vindexine), taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel), and gemcitabine.
In addition to disrupting microtubules, fenbendazole has been shown to induce apoptosis and pyroptosis in cancer cells. Specifically, fenbendazole reduces the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and promotes the cleavage of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in colorectal cancer cells. This leads to the preferential destruction of cancer cells in vivo, and fenbendazole exhibits this effect even in 5-FU-resistant CRC cells.
It has also been shown that fenbendazole can cause apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells in vitro, but not necroptosis or autophagy. This suggests that the cellular death pathways induced by fenbendazole are distinct from those triggered by conventional chemotherapy agents, and may lead to an improved response rate to anticancer treatments in CRC patients.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that fenbendazole is safe for cancer patients to take. It can have adverse side effects, and it has been reported to increase the risk of neurological disorders such as encephalopathy, seizures, and tremors in some patients. Additionally, fenbendazole should never be taken in combination with anticoagulants, as it can increase the bleeding risk. Because of these risks, patients should discuss the use of fenbendazole with their doctors. fenbendazole for humans