Fenbendazole is a drug which is widely known as an anti-parasitic medication. However, in recent times it has recently become popular amongst many people, as a promising alternative medicine for cancer treatment. This blog will shed a light into the anti-cancer mechanisms of Fenbendazole and its potential therapeutic targets.

How Fenbendazole Treats Cancer?

Cancer cells are notorious for their ability to grow uncontrollably, dodge treatments, and create drug resistance. Studies reveal that Fenbendazole for cancer treatment in humans works by targeting multiple metabolic pathways and cellular structures that are crucial for cancer cell survival.

Disruption of Glucose Metabolism

Cancer cells depend heavily on glucose for energy and building materials through a process called aerobic glycolysis. Whereas, a protein named GLUT1 transporter is responsible for glucose uptake in cancer cells. What Fenbendazole does is that it inhibits this transport of glucose towards the cancer cells. In result, the cancer cells starve of the energy required for rapid growth. This is a potential approach to managing drug-resistant tumors.

Microtubule Destabilization

One more way of how Fenbendazole treats cancer is by Microtubule Destabilization. Microtubule are important for cell division and its structural integrity. Fenbendazole works as a microtubule-destabilizing agent and impairs the ability of cancer cells to divide effectively. This action leads to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, resulting in halting of tumor progression.

Activation of the p53 Pathway

The p53 protein is a key regulator of cell death (apoptosis). Fenbendazole increases p53 activation which triggers mechanisms that suppress cancer cell growth. This is mechanism of action is especially valuable in cases where tumors show abnormal glucose metabolism and depend on hexokinase II (HKII) for survival.

Cell Apoptosis by Fenbendazole for Cancer Treatment

Fenbendazole is preferred for human cancer treatment because of its dual action: energy metabolism and apoptosis. We have talked about energy metabolism above, now let’s talk about the other activities of Fenbendazole for cancer treatment.

• Inducing Apoptosis (Cell Death): Fenbendazole kills cancer cells by triggering a natural process called “programmed cell death” or “apoptosis”. It affects pathways (Caspase and PARP) and damages the mitochondria of cancer cells. This is especially helpful for cancers like colorectal cancer, which are usually hard-to-treat.
• Increasing Oxidative Stress: Cancer cells are sensitive to a type of damage called oxidative stress. Fenbendazole increases this stress and ultimately disturbs the ability of cancer cells to grow. It also activates MEK3/6-p38MAPK pathway that make the cancer cells more prone to die.

By attacking cancer cells through multiple ways, Fenbendazole is effective in slowing down or stopping the tumor growth.

The Final Thought: Fenbendazole for Cancer Treatment in Humans

With the anti-cancer mechanisms and targets of Fenbendazole being researched, it has become clear that Fenbendazole has promising properties for curing cancer in humans.

Many people are using it at home for curing for cancer. 1 gram of Fenbendazole 222mg or Fenbendazole 444mg is taken once a day for 3 consecutive days, with 4 days breaks from the treatment.

However, the use of Fenbendazole for cancer humans needs to undergo more clinical trials to confirm that it is safe to use as an at-home cure for cancer.