In February, a TikTok post claimed that fenbendazole, an ingredient in dog wormers, is a cure for cancer. There isn’t enough evidence to support this claim.
1H and DOSY NMR experiments were run on fenbendazole analytical standard and samples of two commercial powders (Brand P and Brand S) in order to observe their solubility and content.
Safety
The anthelmintic drug fenbendazole, which is used to treat parasitic infections in animals, has been shown to slow cancer cell growth in studies of cells and animals. However, there isn’t sufficient evidence from randomized clinical trials to prove that fenbendazole cures cancer in humans.
Scientists have found that fenbendazole can kill certain cancer cells in a laboratory dish and suppresses glucose uptake in tumor cells with the KRAS mutation, indicating that it may help other anticancer drugs work better. Researchers also found that fenbendazole has an unusual mechanism of action that could be useful in other ways.
The researchers analyzed the formulations of two commercial brands of fenbendazole, which are used for treating parasitic infections in livestock. They determined the presence of fenbendazole using several tests including HPLC, LC-MS and NMR. They also performed dissolution studies to simulate the ability of fenbendazole to dissolve adequately in the fluids of the gastrointestinal tract, be absorbed into the circulation and reach various areas of the body.
Efficacy
Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic agent with a broad spectrum of use in various animals. It exerts its anthelmintic activity by binding to b-tubulin microtubule subunits and inhibiting polymerization. Recently, it has also been reported to have antitumor activities through this mechanism.
A 2018 study published in Scientific Reports found that fenbendazole, which is known to block cell growth by binding to a cellular component called cyclin, can also kill cancer cells. However, the underlying reason for this finding is not well understood.
Despite the fact that fenbendazole can significantly decrease tumor volume in mice, it does not prevent radiation-induced lung metastases (p=0.24). In addition, dissolution studies indicate that a commercially available formulation of the drug contains formulation issues that hinder distribution in the body.
Side Effects
In vitro, fenbendazole (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate) is an antiparasitic drug that binds to tubulin microtubule subunits and inhibits polymerization. It is also reported to exert cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells.
Scientists tested fenbendazole in two human non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines and found that it caused partial alteration of microtubule structure, causing cell death. When injected into mice, fenbendazole caused tumor reduction in vivo.
Nevertheless, no peer-reviewed study has yet confirmed that fenbendazole can actually cure cancer in humans. Tippens had been taking other conventional treatments at the time she claimed to have experienced remission, making it impossible to attribute her remission to the anthelmintic alone. Moreover, the FDA has warned that people shouldn’t use fenbendazole to treat their cancer because it isn’t approved for that purpose. The nonprofit organization Cancer Research UK told Full Fact that there is “no evidence that fenbendazole can help cure cancer.” Neither does the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which told PolitiFact that the drug hasn’t gone through clinical trials to prove its efficacy in treating cancer.
Precautions
Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug used to treat parasitic worms in animals. Researchers are repurposing it as an anti-cancer agent. It inhibits the growth of microtubules in cancer cells. However, it does not seem to be effective in treating other types of cancers.
A video posted by an unlicensed veterinarian on TikTok and Facebook claimed that a dog deworming medication, fenbendazole, cures cancer. However, he did not provide proof of his claims. In fact, he had previously been reprimanded by the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia for posting videos that promoted alternative medicine.
A fenbendazole analytical standard and methanol for HPLC were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Louis, MO). Packets of two commercial brands of fenbendazole powder, Brand P and Brand S, were obtained and analyzed. The fenbendazole solubility and content were confirmed by qualitative analysis using 1H and DOSY NMR. A simple, robust and cost-effective HPLC method was developed and validated to quantify fenbendazole in the two brands.fenbendazole cancer treatment