Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat parasitic infections in many animal species. It acts by binding to b-tubulin, a polymer that forms the microtubules of the cell. This results in mitotic arrest and interfering with glucose metabolism.
In a clinical study, three doses of fenbendazole reduced tumor volume and vascularity in irradiated mouse models. This is similar to cytotoxic anticancer agents that act on microtubules.
Deworming
A broad-spectrum medication, fenbendazole is effective against roundworms, hookworms and whipworms as well as several tapeworm species including the Taenia species and Giardia. It also kills some lungworms and flukes.
Inside the cells of a parasite are structures called microtubules. When fenbendazole is absorbed, it attaches to these microtubules and disrupts them, blocking the parasite from producing energy, starving it until it dies. This makes fenbendazole a potent dewormer and it is also safe for the animal and environment.
Often, fenbendazole is combined with praziquantel or Pyrantel in a pill form to prevent re-infection after treatment. These medications are available at most veterinarians and pharmacies and should be administered according to your veterinarian’s instructions. For example, the recommended dose for dogs is 50 mg fenbendazole per kilogram of body weight every 24 hours for 3 days. These tablets can be added to food or hand-administered to the bird. Each capsule contains 6.7mg of fenbendazole and is intended to treat a 4-7 lb bird.
Chemotherapy
Benzimidazoles have been reported to induce antitumor activity in human cancer cells. Fenbendazole belongs to this class of drugs and is widely used as an anthelmintic. The anthelmintic is thought to work by altering the redox balance in the cell. It also increases p53 expression and induces autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in CRC cells.
In the present study, we demonstrated that fenbendazole significantly reduced the clonogenicity of EMT6 cells in a colony formation assay. In addition, we showed that fenbendazole activates apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via p53-p21 pathways in both 5-FU-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy can acquire complex medical information through social media. However, this method may result in the dissemination of unproven facts. Therefore, physicians should enquire whether patients have acquired information on the antitumor effect of fenbendazole from social media. Patients who self-administer the drug should be monitored closely for unexpected adverse reactions. Moreover, they should be counseled on the dangers of self-administering unproven therapies.
Cancer Treatment
The anthelmintic drug fenbendazole has been found to be effective in treating cancer, especially in combination with other treatments. Several research studies show that fenbendazole can significantly reduce tumor growth in animal models and human patients with cancer. In addition, it can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The antitumor effects of fenbendazole are attributed to its inhibitory effects on microtubules, which are essential cell structures that provide shape and support for cells. It also exhibits cytotoxic activities against cancer cells with the RAS-related signaling pathway.
A benzimidazole antibiotic that is typically used to treat parasites and worms, fenbendazole can kill cancer cells by inhibiting the synthesis of a cellular protein called tubulin. It can also trigger other cell death pathways, such as autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis.
The results showed that fenbendazole induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in both 5-fluorouracil-sensitive and -resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. However, it did not affect p53-p21 or promote necroptosis in either type of cell.
Supplements
A compounded fenbendazole medication can be made for your pet by a veterinarian. Its primary claim is to eradicate nematodes (parasite worms) from the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. It is available in beef-flavored capsules that can be given orally, sprinkled over food or added to feed.
Among the many anthelmintic drugs that are commonly used to treat various parasites in veterinary species is fenbendazole. It is effective against pinworms, giardia and other intestinal worms. It has also been shown to inhibit tumor growth in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer.
This antitumor activity was attributed to the fenbendazole’s polymerization inhibitory effects on microtubules, which form parts of the cell’s cytoskeleton and give shape to cells. Microtubules are also targeted by a number of chemotherapeutic agents, including vinca alkaloids and taxanes. While anthelmintics like fenbendazole have shown promise as potential cancer treatments, there is no evidence that they cure human cancers.fenbendazole capsules