Overview

Drug repurposing (DR) or repositioning is an emerging trend in medical studies today. The fact that the entire procedure costs less than creating new drugs paved its popularity. In addition, DR also saves time, a benefit that more doctors prefer rather than waiting for the emergence of the newer drugs. Such is the case of the drug called mebendazole. 

Initially, mebendazole’s original use was to treat infections caused by worms. However, research by the John Hopkins team reported that mebendazole could also treat cancer. We’ll talk about the drug more in this article, together with its efficacy. We value the significance of drugs that can help treat cancer; that’s why we created this blog for your better understanding. 

What is Mebendazole?

Mebendazole is a type of antihelmintic drug. It is a recommended medication by doctors worldwide to treat worm infestation inside the human body. The types of worm that mebendazole can treat are:

• Roundworm
• Hookworm 
• Whipworm 
• Threadworm

Its efficiency eliminates the worm’s eggs even before hatching; therefore, it is very effective against parasites.   

How Does Mebendazole Work In Treating Cancer?

The John Hopkins study and several others concluded that mebendazole is an effective medication against cancer. According to their research, mebendazole has antitumor properties. It inhibits cancer cells’ growth, migrations, and metastatic formation of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Several data from Vitro suggests that mebendazole contributes to a wide range of factors in managing tumor progression, such as

• Tubulin polymerization
• Angiogenesis
• Pro-survival pathways
• Matrix metalloproteinases
• Multi-drug resistance protein transporters

Reports show that mebendazole works well with ionizing radiations of different chemotherapeutic agents. It also stimulates the antitumoral immune response. mebendazole treatment based on Vivo shows  that it works well as a single agent or combined with chemotherapy. The results confirmed a significant reduction in tumor growth. In addition, patients have a better survival rate with a reduced metastatic spread. 

Further Research and Facts About Mebendazole In Treating Cancer

Mebendazole is an anthelmintic drug that extends survival in preclinical models of glioblastoma and other brain cancers.

Treatment Methods

A single-center dose-escalation and safety study of mebendazole in 24 patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas combined with temozolomide. After completing concurrent radiation plus temozolomide, patients received mebendazole in combination with adjuvant temozolomide. Dose-escalation levels were 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day of oral mebendazole. The studies enrolled fifteen patients at the highest dose of 200 mg/kg/day. Trough plasma levels of mebendazole measured in 4, 8, and 16 weeks.

Mebendazole Treatment Results

Results Data

Twenty-four patients: 18 glioblastomas and six anaplastic gliomas. 

Median age: 49.8 years. 

Four patients (at 200 mg/kg) developed elevated to grade 3 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) after one month of treatment – which was reversed with lower dosing or discontinuation.

Plasma levels of mebendazole were variable but generally increased with dose. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a 21-month median overall survival with 41.7% of patients alive at two years and 25% at 3 and 4 years. Median progression-free survival (PFS) from the date of diagnosis for 17 patients taking more than one month of mebendazole was 13.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.8–14.6 months). However, for seven patients who received less than one month of mebendazole PFS was 9.2 months (95% CI: 5.8–13.0 months).

Additional Studies

One of the most aggressive types of cancer is pancreatic cancer. Dr Riggins from John Hopkins Medical School  discovered that mebendazole could prevent initiation, progression, and metastasis in pancreatic cancer in a well established genetically engineered mouse model. Generally, mebendazole works by collapsing the cancer cells’ structure and other mechanisms, reducing inflammation.

Conclusion

The evidence for the anti-cancer effect of mebendazole comes from In Vitro, In Vivo, In Silico, and human clinical trial data from John Hopkins and Care Oncology Clinic, UK. The action from the microtubule in the laboratory is evident. It provides a similar role to some of the significant classical chemotherapeutic drug classes, such as the taxanes and vinca alkaloids. What’s more, mebendazole shows well-established pharmacokinetics and an excellent toxicity profile. By combining it with the existing standard treatments, the effects can save more  lives. 

Mebendazole meets and exceeds many of the attributes ideal for a repurposed medication like

• A good and proven toxicity profile
• Pharmacokinetics allowing to reach therapeutic concentrations at the disease area 
• Ease of administration 

Suffice to say; this anti-parasite medication is safe to use in cancer, based on the factual records stated in this article. It’s not just a common pinworm medication or preventative pinworm treatment but also an effective antitumor agent. 

Live a Healthier and Happier Life with the Institute of Integrative BioOncology. 

Dr. Paul Zhang at the Institute of Integrative BioOncology in Houston provides evidence-based treatments for a wide range of cancers. Call today for more information.