Fenbendazole (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic used under veterinary medicine to treat parasitic worms in dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and livestock. The medication is used to treat a number of different parasites and worms, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and the Taenia genus of tapeworms. It is commonly sold under the brand names Pancur and Safe-Guard.
The medication is also being used by cancer patients as part of a treatment method called the Joe Tippens Protocol, which claims that the drug can help cure cancer. However, the vast majority of research that has been done to date shows that fenbendazole is not effective against cancer in humans. Furthermore, the protocols that advocate using this medication do not provide enough information on how to properly use it and may pose a significant health risk for many patients.
While fenbendazole is not a cure for cancer, it has been shown to be effective at slowing down tumor growth in lab dishes and mice. It does this by interfering with the formation of microtubules, which are a component of the protein scaffolding that supports cells. During cell division, the even separation of chromosomes is accomplished by the mitotic spindle, which is made up of microtubules. Drugs that bind to and inhibit the formation of these structures disrupt essential cellular functions, including cell division.
Researchers have studied the potential of fenbendazole to be used as an anticancer agent in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. They found that the drug binds to the protein tubulin and interferes with its ability to form microtubules, which is essential for cell division. Consequently, the cell cycle is delayed and apoptosis is induced.
Moreover, fenbendazole has also been shown to induce necroptosis in CRC cells by blocking glucose uptake and reducing glycogen stores. The drug also binds to the ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, leading to apoptosis.
The anthelmintic activity of fenbendazole is also well established, and it is used under an extra-label basis in the pheasant industry to treat internal parasites (nematodes and trematodes) in domestic food animals. In fact, the FDA has approved fenbendazole for the treatment of Syngamus trachea, one of the most common nematodes that parasitizes pheasants.
Unfortunately, social media is a powerful tool for spreading medical misinformation and false claims about the benefits of certain treatments. This has led to the dissemination of unproven and potentially dangerous medical practices. For example, a nonmedical individual self-administered fenbendazole to treat their advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, and the patient experienced liver damage as a result.
While fenbendazole is a safe and effective drug in treating parasites and worms in humans and animals, it is not recommended for the treatment of human cancer. It is possible that the Joe Tippens Protocol has some merit, but it is not supported by sufficient evidence. In addition, the protocols that advocate using this drug do not adequately address other causes of the cancer patient’s remission, such as conventional cancer treatments. Therefore, the vast majority of oncologists do not recommend fenbendazole as an adjunctive therapy for cancer. fenbendazole for humans