Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole antiparasitic agent. It is effective against intestinal helminths, including giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and the tapeworm genus Taenia (but not Dipylidium caninum). It is also effective against pulmonary paragonimiasis in dogs.
It acts by interfering with the formation of microtubules, which are part of a protein scaffold that gives shape and structure to cells. This mechanism of action is similar to that of cytotoxic anticancer agents.
Fenbendazole is an anthelmintic
Fenbendazole (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate) is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic that has been used to treat many different animal species. It exerts its anthelmintic activity by binding to b-tubulin microtubule subunits and disrupting their polymerization. Recently, fenbendazole has also shown promising antitumor activity in various cancer models.
In an experiment, researchers found that fenbendazole binds to the tubulin in human glioblastoma cells, causing cell cycle arrest and reducing the expression of cyclin B1. This effect was mediated by its direct interaction with the mitotic spindle and the destabilization of microtubules.
It has also been reported to inhibit cancer cell proliferation by blocking the synthesis of cellular energy. In addition, fenbendazole is an effective inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines and suppresses the expression of a variety of tumor-associated genes.
In a recent case study, a woman with stage IV cancer received oral fenbendazole to treat her tumors. Her CEA levels increased and her family members were concerned about progression of her cancer, so they encouraged her to take the medicine. The patient’s symptoms resolved and her cancer stabilized after three months.
A large-scale survey of anthelmintic resistance in Capillaria and Trichostrongylus nematodes in poultry is needed. This is important for both animal welfare and economic impact. If anthelmintic resistance to these drugs persists, it may increase the cost of production for poultry farmers.
It is an anticancer agent
Fenbendazole is an anthelmintic drug that has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in in vitro and animal studies. Several recent studies have reported that it can also induce apoptosis in human tumor cells. However, these results are anecdotal and shouldn’t be considered evidence that fenbendazole can cure cancer. In order to reach more reliable conclusions, large randomized controlled trials involving many patients need to be performed.
In one study, Dogra et al. showed that fenbendazole could reduce the growth of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma cells in mice. After transplanting tumors into athymic nu/nu mice, 1 mg/mouse of fenbendazole was administered daily for 12 days and resulted in significant shrinkage of the tumor mass. The authors also found that fenbendazole suppressed the expression of RAS-related signaling pathways.
Another study by the same group showed that fenbendazole significantly reduced the viability of HeyA8 cells in vitro, and also significantly inhibited cell migration. The authors attributed this effect to the inhibition of Akt and Erk activities, and the suppression of cell cycle progression and autophagy.
To evaluate the physicochemical properties of M-F, M-R, and M-FR, the polymer and various ratios of fenbendazole and rapamycin were weighed in a scintillation vial and dissolved in 1 mL tert-butanol at 60degC. The resulting solution was then lyophilized (Advantage Pro; SP Scientific, Warminster, PA) at -70degC. The resulting freeze-dried powders were reconstituted in 1 mL of DW at 60degC and used for in vitro clonogenic assays.
It is a hypoxia-selective nitroheterocyclic cytotoxin and radiosensitizer
Fenbendazole is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic and anticancer agent. It acts by interfering with the formation of microtubules, a protein scaffold that gives cells their shape and structure. Textbook depictions of cells often portray them as amorphous bags of liquid, but they actually establish shape and structure through the cytoskeleton, which is comprised of a protein called tubulin. When binds to tubulin, fenbendazole destabilizes microtubules, allowing them to break apart and disassemble.
In cell culture, high doses of fenbendazole were toxic to EMT6 mammary tumor cells, with toxicity increasing with incubation time. In vivo, it was found that fenbendazole produced cytotoxic and antitumor effects on mice bearing EMT6 mammary tumors. However, it did not significantly alter the growth of unirradiated tumors or increase the antineoplastic activity of radiation or docetaxel.
It was also determined that fenbendazole had modest but significant anti-cancer activity on human colon cancer cells in vitro. This effect was enhanced by combining it with cisplatin, which is a well-established platinum chemotherapy drug. In addition, a small study of patients with metastatic lung cancer showed that fenbendazole could reduce the rate at which the cancer spread to other parts of the body. However, these results were limited by the low number of patients who were treated with fenbendazole. Moreover, the method of delivery was inconsistent, so it is difficult to attribute the observed improvements to fenbendazole alone.
It is a microtubule destabilizing agent
Fenbendazole, a member of the benzimidazole family, inhibits cell growth by binding to tubulin and preventing its polymerization. It also acts as a microtubule destabilizing agent, causing cytoskeleton disassembly. Consequently, fenbendazole can be used to treat cancer and other diseases. Its anthelmintic properties and microtubule-destabilizing activity make it a promising drug for treating tumors.
Although textbook depictions of cells show various cellular components floating in amorphous bags of liquid, cells establish shape and structure through a protein scaffold called the cytoskeleton. This structure is composed of microtubules, which are made of a protein called tubulin. These microtubules form a dynamic structure that can be assembled and disassembled according to the needs of the cell. In addition to its anti-proliferative effect, fenbendazole can also cause cytoskeleton disassembly and inhibit cell migration.
To evaluate the effects of fenbendazole, we treated a human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line with fenbendazole and compared the results to wild-type cells. The results showed that fenbendazole inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the RAS-related signaling pathway expression. In vivo, fenbendazole enhanced the cytotoxic effects of radiation and docetaxel in A549)-resistant cells.
The results of this study demonstrated that fenbendazole, a member in the benzimidazole family of drugs, was able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation by binding to tubulin and preventing microtubule polymerization. The findings also suggest that fenbendazole can be exploited in combination therapy for tumors. fenben lab fenbendazol