Fenbendazole (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate), a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelminthic used to treat parasitic worms, has recently caught the attention of cancer researchers. These investigators discovered that fenbendazole destroys cancer cells by disrupting the microtubules they rely on to replicate and divide.
In a series of experiments, they found that when fenbendazole is administered to human lung adenocarcinoma cells in culture, they rapidly shrink and die. The results also showed that fenbendazole limits glucose uptake into cancer cells, which is known as the Warburg Effect, and inhibits a key enzyme in the process called hexokinase 2.
This is not surprising, since hexokinase is responsible for turning sugar into energy for the cancer cell, but the way it happens is intriguing: Fenbendazole destabilizes the hexokinase protein so that it is no longer able to bind to the hexokinase receptor on the surface of the cancer cell. This prevents the cancer cell from processing sugar, which is its primary fuel, and also reduces its ability to grow.
Interestingly, when the researchers studied mice that were injected with human lymphoma tumor cells and given a fenbendazole diet, the tumors never appeared. This is not a normal result for this type of experiment and the scientists were intrigued by it. They then realized that fenbendazole destroys the microtubules of the tumor cells, which stops them from replicating and growing, and inhibits their glucose uptake so they can’t get the energy they need to survive.
Several studies have shown that fenbendazole can also destroy other cancer cells by destroying the hexokinase proteins. It is also a strong antioxidant, so it can help protect healthy cells from damage. Cancer patients should always consult with their doctor to explore all of the available treatment options based on their individual health status. fenbendazole cancer treatment
