Scientists have discovered that fenbendazole—a drug commonly used to treat parasites in animals—might also help fight cancer.
Though initially designed for animals like dogs and cattle, recent studies show that fenbendazole can attack cancer cells in multiple ways. This finding has excited researchers because it offers a safe, affordable potential weapon against cancer.
In the lab, fenbendazole damaged these microtubules in cancer cells, causing them to become disorganized and eventually die.
A Surprising Cancer Fighter
Fenbendazole (FZ) is known as a dewormer, but researchers found it can disrupt structures inside cells called microtubules. Microtubules are like tiny scaffolds that help cells divide and function properly.
Cancer cells divide quickly, so anything interfering with their internal structure can slow or stop their growth. In the lab, fenbendazole damaged these microtubules in cancer cells, causing them to become disorganized and eventually die.
Shutting Down Cancer’s Energy At The Source
Cancer cells need a lot of energy and get most of it from glucose (sugar). Fenbendazole made it harder for cancer cells to absorb and use glucose.
It did this by reducing the levels of sugar transporters (called GLUT proteins) and blocking the activity of an important enzyme called hexokinase II. As a result, the cancer cells couldn’t get the energy they needed and started to die.
Might Even Make Chemo Drugs More Effective
The study also found that fenbendazole worked even better when used with other cancer treatments. Fenbendazole made those treatments more effective when paired with drugs like taxol (a chemotherapy medicine) or glucose-blockers like 2-deoxyglucose and dichloroacetate.
This promising synergy suggests that fenbendazole could significantly enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments.
Safe for Normal Cells
A big concern with cancer drugs is that they often harm healthy cells too. However, in this study, fenbendazole didn’t show strong toxicity to normal lung cells from rats, even though it killed cancer cells. This reassuring safety profile makes it a promising candidate for future treatments, especially since it has been proven safe in animals for many years.
Animal Testing Success
Researchers gave the drug to mice with human lung tumors to test the drug beyond the lab. The mice took fenbendazole by mouth every other day for 12 days.
By the end of the experiment, the tumors were much smaller than in untreated mice. The tumors also showed signs of lower blood supply and more cancer cell death.
The Role of p53 – Cancer’s Natural Enemy
One of the most exciting parts of the study involved a protein called p53. Often called the “guardian of the genome,” p53 protects cells from becoming cancerous. Fenbendazole increased the activity of p53 in cells that still had a working copy of the gene.
This helped those cells recognize and stop cancer growth more effectively. Even in cells missing p53, fenbendazole still had some cancer-fighting effects, showing it works through multiple pathways.
Why This Matters
Cancer is challenging to treat because tumors can quickly adapt to drugs and become resistant. Many modern drugs focus on just one target, which means they can lose effectiveness.
Fenbendazole works on several parts of the cancer cell at once—it messes with the skeleton (microtubules), energy supply (glucose use), and control systems (like p53). That makes it harder for cancer to escape.
Fascinating Case Study
Joe Tippins was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in 2016.
He visited MD Anderson, followed the prescribed treatment, underwent chemotherapy, and so on, which had the expected outcome, resulting in severe metastases. He developed approximately 92 tumors, exceeding the manageable amount, and was informed by medical professionals that it was time to return home, arrange for hospice care, and prepare for his final farewell.
Upon returning home, Joe consulted a friend who was a large animal veterinarian. The friend shared an observation that when animals with cancer were treated for worms, the cancer would often disappear. Inspired by this, Joe decided to try the treatment.
After three months, Joe’s scans showed no signs of cancer, and his scans remain clean to this day, effectively demonstrating the treatment’s potential efficacy in humans.
However, the question remains: what is the mechanism by which it affects cancer? As previously mentioned, it binds to microtubules, a process similar to that of certain taxane-based chemotherapies.
Fenbendazole Destabilizes The Cancer Cell’s Structure
This research opens an exciting path for repurposing a cheap and safe veterinary drug to treat cancer. Fenbendazole destabilizes the cancer cell’s structure, cuts off its sugar supply, and boosts natural tumor-fighting proteins like p53.
It also shows promise in combination with other cancer therapies and doesn’t seem to harm healthy cells much. While it’s too early to recommend it for human use, these findings suggest that fenbendazole could become a valuable part of future cancer treatment plans. However, it’s important to note that these findings are based on animal studies, and more research is needed to confirm its effects in people.
Additionally, the study has some limitations, such as the small sample size and the fact that it was conducted on animals, which may not fully represent the effects in humans. Here’s the research paper [1] for your consideration.
Be sure to ask your doctor if fenbendazole is right for you.