Fenbendazole is a dog dewormer that’s been touted as a cancer treatment by a veterinarian who made videos on Facebook and TikTok. But a fact check shows that there isn’t sufficient evidence that it cures cancer.
The drug works by interfering with microtubules, which provide structure to cells. It also affects glucose metabolism and causes apoptosis in cancer cells.
It kills cancer cells
In cell cultures and animals, fenbendazole appears to slow the growth of cancer cells. It may also kill cancer cells by blocking their ability to take up glucose, which they need for survival. However, this isn’t enough evidence to prove that fenbendazole can cure cancer in humans. To do that, randomized clinical trials would need to be conducted.
Fenbendazole works by inhibiting the polymerization of tubulin, a protein that forms microtubules, which are part of the cell’s cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton gives structure and shape to cells and enables them to move through narrow spaces. Cells with intact cytoskeletons are able to grow faster and are more likely to form tumors. The anticancer effects of fenbendazole appear to be similar to those of other drugs that target the cytoskeleton. These include vinca alkaloids (vinblastine, vincristine, and vindexine) and taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel).
Fenbendazole also seems to increase apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells and patient-derived colon cancer organoids. This may be due to its effect on p53-p21 pathways, but it is also possible that it is caused by autophagy or ferroptosis. In addition, fenbendazole is known to have a cytotoxic effect on colorectal cancer cells that are resistant to 5-fluorouracil. This suggests that fenbendazole may be effective in combination with other chemotherapy agents.
It kills parasites
Fenbendazole (also known as Panacur) is an anthelmintic used to treat parasitic diseases and worms. It belongs to a group of drugs called benzimidazoles and is known for its effectiveness in killing roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. It also reduces the number of eggs produced by these worms. It is available as a tablet or oral solution and has many brand names including Safe-Guard and Panacur.
Studies have shown that fenbendazole suppresses the growth of cancer cells in living things and in lab experiments. It works by stopping the proper formation of microtubules, which give structure to cells. It also interferes with the growth of proteins that provide energy for a cell. This process leads to the death of the cell, which prevents further proliferation and growth.
In addition to preventing tumor growth, fenbendazole can help prevent drug resistance in cancer patients. The drug inhibits glucose uptake in cancer cells, which deprives them of their primary fuel. It can also be used as an adjunctive therapy with chemotherapies or radiotherapy.
New cancer treatments require a lot of time and money to develop, but repurposing veterinary drugs with promising results can save the cost and time of developing a new drug. Moreover, repurposing a veterinary medicine can eliminate the need to conduct animal testing and human clinical trials, which can be expensive and take several years.
It’s safe
The Joe Tippens cancer protocol is a controversial treatment plan that involves taking fenbendazole and other supplements to kill parasites and destroy cancer cells. The protocol is not approved by the FDA, but it has gained popularity in South Korea and elsewhere. The protocol suggests consuming 222 mg of fenbendazole each day seven days a week with food. In addition, patients are encouraged to take curcumin and CBD oil with the fenbendazole.
While the claims of the Joe Tippens protocol are unproven, the claim has spread widely online. The nonprofit organization Cancer Research UK told Full Fact that there’s insufficient evidence to suggest that fenbendazole can cure cancer. In addition, the drug hasn’t gone through clinical trials to prove its efficacy.
Scientists have found that fenbendazole is a powerful antiparasitic agent and has shown some anti-cancer activity in lab mice. The drug works by stopping the proper growth of microtubules, which provide structure to cells. It also appears to promote the death of cancer cells by triggering a mechanism called ferroptosis.
A team led by Gregory Riggins discovered that fenbendazole prevented tumors from growing in mice with a deadly brain cancer, glioblastoma. The researchers dissolved the drug in sterile, pyrogen-free physiologic saline and injected it into the mice’s rectums. They measured the size of the tumors at various times and compared the results between the irradiated and fenbendazole-treated groups.
It’s not a cure
While fenbendazole has shown anti-cancer effects in cell cultures and in animal models, it is not a cure for cancer. The drug hasn’t been tested in randomized clinical trials on humans. It is also not FDA-approved for use as a cancer treatment. The nonprofit organization Cancer Research UK tells PolitiFact that there’s insufficient evidence to support claims that fenbendazole can treat human cancer.
A video that’s gone viral on TikTok and Facebook shows a veterinarian discussing the case of Joe Tippens, who says that taking fenbendazole cured his small-cell lung cancer. The video is a clip from a longer video posted on the YouTube channel of Andrew Jones, a Canadian veterinarian who was disbarred in 2021 for unlicensed practice. Jones has been a vocal proponent of alternative medicine and was a member of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC).
The video claims that fenbendazole cures cancer by acting as a moderate microtubule destabilizing agent. This action triggers multiple cellular pathways, including apoptosis and ferroptosis. It has also been shown to cause G2/M cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. Moreover, it enhances p53-mediated apoptosis and decreases mutant p53 expression.
However, despite the popularity of this video, the claim that fenbendazole cures human cancer is false. The drug is not a cure for cancer, and there are many other reasons why it wouldn’t work. fenbendazole for cancer