What Is Fenbendazole, And How Can It Affect Cancer Treatment? 6
Fenbendazole is a drug used for the treatment of worms and protozoa. It is given to patients with cancer who have an infection called intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) caused by the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis Source. This parasite can cause a wide range of symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
IPO is most often seen in people with low immunity or poor nutrition. This can happen in older people or those with conditions like HIV/AIDS or cancer.
The drug disrupts the parasites’ metabolism and prevents them from reproducing effectively. The drug also prevents eggs laid by adult worms from hatching properly into larvae. In this article, we will help you learn more about the effect of Fenbendazole on cancer treatment. The following are ways in which fenbendazole affects cancer treatment:
Fights cancer cells directly
Fenbendazole has been found to kill cancer cells directly when exposed to high doses of fumagillin (a derivative of fumagillin) Source. Fumagillin is an antibiotic produced by Aspergillus fumigatus, effective against breast cancer cells in vitro (in the lab). When used at high concentrations, fumagillin kills cancer cells without affecting normal cells. This is an important finding because it indicates that there may be new ways of treating cancer using natural substances or drugs derived from them.
May kill off cancer stem cells
Fenbendazole targets an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that helps regulate the production of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh is necessary for normal brain function, but it is also essential for the survival of many types of cancer cells. These include glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a primary brain tumor. Some studies have found that fenbendazole inhibits AChE activity and reduces ACh levels in GBM cells grown in laboratory dishes. This may be because it blocks the action of a protein called epoxide hydrolase 2 (EPHX2). In general, Fenbendazole has been shown to kill cancer stem cells in several studies. Researchers showed that the drug could help kill off breast cancer stem cells in one study. This could make it an effective treatment option for those with metastatic breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).
Promotes immune system response against tumors
Fenbendazole stimulates the immune system by increasing the number of macrophages and lymphocytes. Macrophages are white blood cells engulfing foreign substances such as bacteria or cancer cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that can destroy tumor cells on their own or attack them in conjunction with other types of white blood cells called helper T-cells. Both macrophages and lymphocytes play an essential role in recognizing and destroying cancer cells before they spread throughout the body.
Reduces inflammation around tumors
Fenbendazole has anti-inflammatory effects on adipose tissue, the type of body fat surrounding cancerous tumors. This is because fenbendazole reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines in the blood Source. Cytokines are a protein that promotes inflammation and are often elevated in people with cancer or other chronic illnesses. The reduction in inflammation can help to prevent specific side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, muscle pain, and loss of appetite. It may also relieve symptoms such as pain and swelling from metastatic breast cancer in women who undergo chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
May slow tumor growth
Fenbendazole is a drug that interferes with the ability of cancer cells to grow, divide, and spread throughout the body. It also prevents tumors from forming new blood vessels to supply them with oxygen and nutrients, making it harder for tumors to grow and spread throughout the body.
It prevents metastasis from occurring
Metastasis is when cancer spreads from one part of the body to another. For example, if someone has breast cancer, they may have a lump on their breast but later find out that there are tumors all over their body. Breast cancer has spread from the original tumor to other body areas via blood vessels or lymph nodes. It makes it much harder for doctors to cure the patient because there’s more than one place for them to attack with treatment options like chemotherapy and surgery. Fenbendazole prevents metastasis in various ways as well. It can prevent cancer cells from increasing, which means that they can’t spread throughout the body and cause problems elsewhere. It also stops them from migrating to other parts of your body by preventing them from attaching themselves to other tissues or organs in your body.
It can be used as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used to treat cancer patients, and these treatments are not always effective and can cause a lot of discomfort for patients. The side effects of these treatments include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, skin problems, and diarrhea, among others. Fenbendazole does not have any side effects, so it can be used as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiation therapy for those who do not want to undergo these treatments.
Increases survival time for patients with advanced or incurable cancers diseases
Fenbendazole has been shown in vitro to inhibit the growth of several types of human cancer cell lines. Its effect on pancreatic carcinoma cells was studied using an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. The results showed that fenbendazole treatment significantly increased survival time and reduced tumor growth in mice with pancreatic cancer. These findings suggest that this compound may be used as a new therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced or incurable cancer diseases. Additionally, the drug works by inhibiting the production of cancerous cells in the body, and it helps prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
It may help prevent infection caused by certain viruses that could cause cancer
Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic (deworming) medication used to treat gastrointestinal roundworm and tapeworm infections Source. It’s also used in combination with other antiparasitic drugs to treat hydatid cyst disease, a severe condition caused by a tiny egg-like parasite called Echinococcus granulosus (also known as hydatid disease). Some studies show that it may help prevent infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This virus can cause mononucleosis and other conditions such as Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (cancer of the nose and throat), Hodgkin’s disease, and lymphomas. This virus also causes a form of skin cancer called infectious mononucleosis syndrome.