Fenbendazole (FZ) is a widely used anti-parasitic drug that prevents the growth of roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and some tapeworms in animals. It is also known to treat certain parasites and worm infections in humans, including cysticercosis and ascaris. The medication is typically tolerated well by human patients, with few reported side effects. In recent years, some researchers have suggested that anthelmintics like fenbendazole may have anti-cancer properties.
Recently, a veterinarian named Andrew Jones posted a series of videos on TikTok claiming that he treated his own small-cell lung cancer using fenbendazole. He also claimed that the drug prevented his cancer from spreading to other organs and killing him. The Canadian government warned him to stop posting such videos on the platform and called for an investigation into his claims.
The results of the new study published in the journal Oncotarget show that fenbendazole (FZ) has potent anti-cancer activity against colorectal cancer cells in vitro. In the study, SNU-C5 and SNU-C5/5-FUR CRC cells were exposed to varying concentrations of fenbendazole for 3 days and cell viability was determined. The results showed that fenbendazole significantly reduced the viability of both cells.
Further, fenbendazole inhibited the proliferation of both 5-FU sensitive and resistant CRC cells by causing G2/M phase arrest via the p53-p21 pathway. Interestingly, fenbendazole induced both apoptosis and autophagy in the cells. Western blot analysis revealed that fenbendazole increased Beclin-1 expression and Atg7 cleavage. It also induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in the cells.fenbendazole for humans cancer