Mebendazole

Mebendazole is a medication primarily used to treat parasitic worm infections, such as pinworm, roundworm, and whipworm infections. However, there has been growing interest in its potential anticancer properties, particularly its ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization in cancer cells, which could interfere with cancer cell division and growth.
Some preclinical studies have shown promising results regarding mebendazole's effects on cancer cells in laboratory settings and animal models. These studies have suggested that mebendazole may have anticancer effects against various types of cancer, including glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer), colorectal cancer, and others.
Several clinical trials investigating mebendazole's potential use in cancer treatment are ongoing or have been completed. These trials aim to assess its safety, determine the optimal dosage, and evaluate its effectiveness in different types of cancer. However, as of my last update, there wasn't conclusive evidence to support its routine use as a cancer treatment outside of clinical trials.
If you're interested in mebendazole as a potential cancer treatment, it's essential to discuss this with a qualified healthcare professional. They can provide guidance based on the latest scientific evidence and help you make informed decisions about your treatment options.
In a study published in the journal Oncotarget on July 6, Gregory Riggins, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and his team used two different mouse models to determine that the anti-parasitic drug mebendazole could slow or stop the growth and spread of both early and late-stage pancreatic cancer.
“We think that mebendazole could have a role in all stages,” Riggins says. “It was particularly effective for pancreatic cancer that was detected early.”
Riggins and his team administered mebendazole to mice that were genetically engineered to develop pancreatic cancer. The team measured the inflammation and the change in tissue, as well as the stage, grade and metastatic status in each tumor.
Originally used to fight roundworm, hookworm and other parasitic infections by cutting off the parasites’ supply of nutrition, mebendazole inhibits the formation of tubulin. Tubulin, Riggins explains, is both a micro-skeleton of the inner cell and a highway for transport. The drug gets into the parasite’s gut and collapses the tubulin, starving the parasite to death. The study shows that mebendazole may act similarly in pancreatic cancer by collapsing cancer cells’ structure, along with other mechanisms such as reducing inflammation.
Mebendazole, a drug commonly used to treat parasitic infections, has shown potential in killing cancer cells. The exact mechanism is not fully understood, but several studies have shed light on its potential anti-cancer effects.
One of the primary mechanisms of action of mebendazole against cancer cells is its ability to depolymerize tubulin, a protein involved in cell division. By disrupting tubulin, mebendazole inhibits the formation of the mitotic spindle, leading to mitotic arrest and apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. This mechanism is similar to other drugs that target tubulin, such as paclitaxel and vinblastine.
In addition to its effect on tubulin, mebendazole has been shown to have other anti-cancer properties. It can induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells by inactivating the Bcl-2 protein, which is involved in regulating cell survival. Mebendazole has also been found to decrease the expression of integrin 4 (ITG4), a protein associated with cancer stemness and metastasis. Furthermore, mebendazole has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce inflammation in pancreatic cancer cells.
It is important to note that while there is promising evidence of mebendazole's anti-cancer effects, further research is needed to fully understand its potential and determine its effectiveness in different types of cancer. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole as an anti-cancer drug.
Mebendazole killing cancer cells