Developed for its primary use as an antiparasitic drug, fenbendazole is widely used to treat parasitic infections in animals. In recent times, it has been repurposed for the treatment of cancer. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in animal experiments and in human cell culture studies. However, no randomized clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in treating cancer. In addition, fenbendazole is an expensive drug to develop. The repurposing of existing drugs is an efficient approach to developing novel therapies, as it reduces the time and costs involved in drug development.

In a series of videos posted on social media platforms, Joe Tippens claimed that he used a combination of supplements and fenbendazole to cure his terminal lung cancer. Although the claims have not been independently verified, fenbendazole has gained popularity amongst alternative cancer treatments.

Its potential for curing cancer has spurred researchers to study the effects of this drug on a number of different types of cancer cells. One such study published in Scientific Reports showed that fenbendazole can prevent the spread of pancreatic cancer in mice by blocking proliferation and causing tumor growth to stop.

Fenbendazole works by interfering with the formation of microtubules. These microtubules are a part of the protein scaffold that gives structure to cells. Textbook depictions of cells typically portray what appear to be amorphous bags of organic components floating in an unstructured liquid. In fact, cells establish their shape and structure through a network of protein scaffolding called the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton includes microtubules, which are made of a cellular substance known as tubulin. Microtubules are dynamic, allowing the cytoskeleton to be reassembled and disassembled as needed. Fenbendazole interferes with the formation of microtubules and prevents the re-assembly.

Other research has shown that fenbendazole can inhibit the growth of several human cancer cells in vitro, including breast, colon, and lung. It has also been shown to induce apoptosis in some of these cell lines.

Further research has suggested that fenbendazole can interfere with glucose metabolism in cancer cells, thereby preventing them from using the sugar as an energy source. In addition, fenbendazole has been shown to interfere with the process of mitosis in cancer cells, which is essential for ensuring that chromosomes are evenly separated during cell division.

This study compared the effect of two commercial brands of fenbendazole on 5-fluorouracil-resistant SNU-C5 colorectal cancer cells in vitro. The underlying mechanisms were investigated using various cell death and cellular growth assays. The results demonstrated that fenbendazole can promote apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle in both wild-type and 5-fluorouracil-resistant SNU-C5 cells. The findings also indicated that p53 stabilization, moderate microtubule disruption and interference with glucose metabolism are collectively responsible for the preferential elimination of cancer cells by fenbendazole. fenbendazole cancer treatment