Does fenbendazole have a role in treating cancer?

Introduction of Fenbendazole

Fenbendazole is a safe, broad-spectrum anthelmintic for the effective treatment of a wide range of helminthic intestinal parasites in animals (dogs, cats, sheep, cows, horses, fish, rabbits, seals, etc.), including ascarids, hookworms, whipworms, threadworms and a single species of tapeworm, Taenia pisiformis. Giardia spp. are also considered susceptible to fenbendazole. Studies have shown that fenbendazole can be used as a potential anticancer drug with inhibitory effects on a variety of tumor cells.

Anticancer activity of Fenbendazole

Colorectal cancer is one of leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Therefore, there have been various attempts to cure the cancer by developing new efficient anti-cancer therapy in addition to surgical resection and chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the effects of fenbendazole, an anti-helminthic drug, both colon cancer cells and patient-derived colon tumor organoids. Notably, we employed 3D tumor organoid models because 2D-cultured cell lines were not able to recapitulate the physiology of solid tumors. We first observed that treatment of fenbendazole to colon cancer cells induced apoptosis within 24 hours, which was extended for a long-term.

We revealed that fenbendazole markedly suppressed proliferation rate via cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle progression is elaborately regulated by multiple genes, such as cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). From a screening of cell cycle-related factors, we found that the protein levels of CDK1 phosphorylated at Tyr15 and cyclin B1 which was known to regulate M phase transition, were drastically downregulated when the tumor cells were exposed to fenbendazole. Next, colorectal tumor-bearing mouse model was established using AOM/DSS. Oral administration of fenbendazole into the mouse not only reduced the number of tumor cells but also lowered tumor grades. Overall, our study suggested a possibility that fenbendazole could be applied for anti-cancer therapy by targeting cell cycle arrest.

Fenbendazole was shown to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells in early studies. While some early studies have provided preliminary evidence that fenbendazole has potential to treat a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer, further studies are needed to determine its success and safety in human clinical trials. The anti-cancer mechanism of fenbendazole may be related to the disruption of microtubules, structures involved in cell division and growth. Fenbendazole may also inhibit the division and proliferation of cancer cells by interfering with microtubule function.

References:

[1] STEFANIE PERL . Fenbendazole treatment against Dentostomella translucida in Syrian golden hamsters[J]. Experimental parasitology, 2023, 245: Article 108458. DOI:10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108458.

[2] LONG CHANG  Liqian Z. Dewormer drug fenbendazole has antiviral effects on BoHV-1 productive infection in cell cultures.[J]. Journal of Veterinary Science, 2020, 21 5: e72. DOI:10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e72.