Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic drug that has been shown to slow down cancer cell growth in cells and animals. It interferes with the formation of microtubules, structures that help establish cell shape and movement.
A Facebook post and TikTok videos from a man named Joe Tippens claimed that he went into remission after taking fenbendazole for cancer. However, this claim is false.
Effects on cancer cells
Benzimidazole carbamates are known to suppress cancer cells in cell cultures and animal models. They also inhibit the formation of microtubules, which provide structure to all cells. Cancer researchers believe that fenbendazole can target the same process in human cancer cells.
However, there is no evidence from randomized clinical trials that fenbendazole can cure humans of their cancer. The drug is typically administered as granules or liquid suspension and is taken by mouth. It is recommended to be taken with food for maximum absorption. In addition, it should be given with a glass of water. It is also suggested that patients should avoid caffeine and alcohol while taking the drug.
The Joe Tippens Protocol was popularized by a video that was posted on YouTube by the CVBC in June 2015. The video claimed that Joe Tippens’s cancer was cured with fenbendazole, a medication used to treat parasites and worms in dogs. While some studies have shown that fenbendazole may help kill cancer, most of the claims in the video are unfounded. Tippens actually received conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. His success was not the result of fenbendazole alone. However, fenbendazole has been shown to disrupt the growth of microtubules in cancer cells and interfere with glucose metabolism. It is believed that this is one of the reasons it can be effective against cancer.
Mechanism of action
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US have found that an antiparasitic drug can slow down tumour growth. They used fenbendazole to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and found that the drug can inhibit the synthesis of proteins necessary for tumor growth. The drug also caused apoptosis in tumour cells. In a separate study, Gregory Riggins and colleagues discovered that fenbendazole can reduce the size of pancreatic cancer tumours in mice. The drug, also known as mebendazole, is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole antiparasitic that is used in multiple animal species to treat parasitic infections.
In a series of tests, the researchers showed that fenbendazole interferes with the assembly of microtubules, a major component of the cytoskeleton. Microtubules control several cellular processes, including cell shape and structure, cell signaling, and mitosis. Several agents have been developed to target microtubules, but their effectiveness is often limited by resistance mechanisms.
A video circulating on TikTok and Facebook claims that the drug fenbendazole, which is sold in Canada as an antiparasitic for dogs, can cure advanced lung cancer. While some preclinical studies have examined the drug’s potential anticancer properties, a cancer expert tells AFP that this claim is unproven. In addition, he says that the journey from a promising drug to a proven treatment can take 25 years.
Side effects
Fenbendazole was originally developed as an anthelmintic to fight parasitic infections. It works by cutting off the parasite’s supply of nutrients by collapsing tubulin, which is a protein that acts as a highway for transport within cells. Now, researchers are using this mechanism to target cancer cells.
Specifically, they found that fenbendazole inhibits the formation of microtubules that are necessary for cell-cycle progression. Inhibition of this process results in the accumulation of cyclin B1 and the inhibition of CDK1, which prevents the transition from G2 to mitosis. This halts the progression of the cell cycle and leads to apoptosis, which can significantly reduce tumor growth.
In addition, fenbendazole also interferes with cellular glucose uptake, which is a key energy source for cancer cells. This effect is due to the inhibition of phosphorylation of glycolysis-related proteins, which causes the cells to release glucose into the medium. The drug is also known to suppress the expression of RAS-related signaling pathways, causing the cell to stop its proliferation and commit suicide.
In addition, fenbendazole does not affect normal cells, making it an ideal candidate for anticancer therapy. Furthermore, preclinical data show that fenbendazole is highly tolerable in animal species. It is also safe to use, even when administered at dosages up to 100 times the approved human dose. A study published in the journal Biol. Pharm. Bull. in 2022 reported that fenbendazole reduces the cell-cycle length and apoptosis of A549 hepatocellular carcinoma cells by impairing the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
Safety
Fenbendazole is a benzimidazole compound with broad antiparasitic activity in various animals. It acts by binding to b-tubulin microtubule subunits and inhibiting their polymerization. Microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton that provides shape and structure to cells. In addition, they serve as a highway for transporting materials in and out of cells. Cytotoxic anticancer drugs that target tubulin include vinca alkaloids and taxanes.
In a series of tests, researchers found that fenbendazole was effective in killing human cancer cells. In particular, it killed 5-FU-sensitive CRC cells and enhanced p53-independent apoptosis. It also promoted autophagy and ferroptosis. Its effects on normal cells were less pronounced.
The repurposing of an animal drug to treat cancer is known as “drug repositioning.” Researchers have found that fenbendazole, which is an antiparasitic drug, can cause tumour regression in mice. It also blocks the growth of a tumour and increases its sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy.
Recently, a patient with pancreatic cancer received fenbendazole as part of her immunotherapy treatment. Her CEA levels began to increase after she started taking the medication. Her doctors were unable to explain the increase and recommended that she stop taking it. The patient subsequently died of liver damage. This case highlights the need for health authorities to provide patients with reliable information about complementary alternative medicine. Moreover, it is important to monitor patients’ internet use and social media activity for false information about alternative therapies. fenbendazole for humans cancer