Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic drug used to treat parasitic worm infections in animals. It has been promoted as a cancer cure by a veterinarian named Andrew Jones in videos posted to TikTok and Facebook. However, no peer-reviewed study has found evidence that the drug could treat or cure humans.
The drug acts as a multitargeted agent by targeting microtubules, which form the structure and shape of cells. It also has cytotoxic effects similar to those of chemotherapeutic agents.
It’s an antiparasitic
Fenbendazole, a drug used to treat parasites in animals, is also being studied as a possible cancer treatment. It has been found to reduce cancer cell growth and inhibit tumor development in laboratory experiments. It works by interfering with the formation of microtubules, which are a protein scaffold that gives cells their shape and structure. Cells are often depicted in textbooks as floating in amorphous bags of liquid, but they actually establish their shape and structure by assembling and disassembling the microtubules.
A 2018 study published in Scientific Reports found that fenbendazole blocks cancer cells from growing and promotes their death by disrupting the microtubule network. The results also showed that fenbendazole is toxic to cancer cells in mice. Researchers also found that it enhances the effectiveness of radiation and docetaxel, which are standard treatments for cancer, by causing cell death through two mechanisms.
However, there is no evidence that fenbendazole can cure cancer in humans. It has not been tested in clinical trials, so there is no way to know if it is safe or effective. A specialist cancer information nurse from Cancer Research UK told Full Fact that if fenbendazole does have anti-cancer effects, they are likely to be limited and will require further research. This includes testing the drug in larger groups of people and using more advanced tests to identify which patients may benefit from it.
It’s not a cure
A controversial video that has been circulating on TikTok and Facebook shows a veterinarian who claims fenbendazole cures cancer. The drug is not approved in Canada as a cancer treatment, and there is no evidence that it can treat human cancers. However, researchers are currently examining this class of drugs as a potential cancer therapy. A recent study found that mebendazole, a drug from the same class as fenbendazole, could slow down pancreatic cancer progression in mice.
The drug works by interfering with the formation of microtubules. This protein scaffold is essential to the structure and movement of cells and their organelles. Textbook depictions of cells usually show them floating in amorphous bags of liquid, but they establish shape and structure through the cytoskeleton, which is made up of microtubules. These are made of a protein called tubulin. Fenbendazole interferes with the formation of these proteins and causes cancer cell death through a number of pathways including p53 activation, apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis.
Another way that fenbendazole might work is by inhibiting the uptake of glucose by cancer cells. Cancer cells need a large amount of energy to grow, so they take in glucose to fuel their growth. Research shows that fenbendazole, which is used as a deworming agent for animals, can block glucose uptake in cancer cells and cause apoptosis. This makes it a promising repurposed drug for cancer.
It’s not a preventative
Fenbendazole is an anti-parasitic medicine used to treat parasitic infections in dogs. It is also being studied as a possible cancer treatment in humans. However, there is not enough evidence to prove that it can cure cancer. In addition, it does not prevent recurrent cancer. It can, however, reduce tumor growth and extend survival in patients with advanced cancers.
The drug interferes with the formation of microtubules in cells, which is essential for cell movement and shape. This disrupts the protein scaffolding of a cell, preventing it from changing shape to fit through narrow spaces. The drug also interferes with glucose uptake, a common feature of cancer cells that provides them with energy.
Cancer cells are often resistant to conventional treatments. One way to overcome this resistance is to use drugs that target multiple cellular pathways. These drugs are more effective than single-targeting agents and can avoid resistance. For example, a recent study found that fenbendazole significantly reduced the size of tumors in 5-FU-sensitive colorectal cancer cells (SNU-C5 and SNU-C5). The drug was also effective in preventing p53 mutant-mediated apoptosis, and inhibited cell cycling and proliferation.
While research using cancer cells in petri dishes and mice suggests that fenbendazole might be effective, there isn’t sufficient evidence that it can cure human cancers. In fact, the anecdotal case of Joe Tippens, who claimed that he went into remission after taking fenbendazole, may be misleading. There could be other factors contributing to his remission, such as conventional cancer treatments, which aren’t being accounted for.
It’s not a treatment
There is no evidence that fenbendazole cures cancer. The ingredient in dog wormers does have a suppressive effect on some cancer cells, but not enough to be called a treatment. It works by stopping the proper growth of microtubules, which are a component of all cells. While normal cells don’t need microtubules to grow, cancer does. It also disrupts the normal process of cell division and interferes with glucose metabolism. The drug is available in granules or as a liquid suspension and can be taken by mouth. It has not been approved by the FDA to treat cancer.
However, some anthelmintics may have anti-cancer effects. A 2020 study found that some animal anthelmintic drugs could have anti-cancer properties, and research into this class of medications continues. However, a cancer researcher told AFP that turning these findings into an approved treatment will be a long journey.
Despite this, some patients still believe that fenbendazole is an effective treatment for cancer. They are relying on false information from social media sites and may have unnecessarily cut their chemotherapy or stopped taking it. They are also risking their lives by ignoring recommended treatments and trying alternative medicines, which can lead to severe complications.
The Joe Tippens protocol uses a combination of fenbendazole and other natural products. It claims to have cured some patients of various types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers. It also claims to prevent recurrence of certain tumors. fenbendazole for cancer