A patient with non-small cell lung cancer self-administered fenbendazole based on social media reports suggesting its effectiveness against her disease, and later developed liver injury. The patient discontinued the extra-label fenbendazole, and her liver function returned to normal.
Originally created as an antiparasitic drug to treat parasitic infections in animals, fenbendazole is widely used to treat gastrointestinal parasites such as pinworms and giardiasis in humans. It has a low toxicity profile, and is well-tolerated with long-term use. The drug is also being studied as a possible anti-cancer agent, with some studies finding that it may slow down cancer growth in animal models and human cells.
However, a 2018 study published in Scientific Reports found that fenbendazole may actually promote the death of cancer cells through multiple mechanisms. One of these is by disrupting the cellular process that causes chromosomes to be evenly separated during cell division, known as mitosis. This is accomplished by a structure made of microtubules, and drugs that interfere with microtubule activity can cause cell division to fail.
Fenbendazole is a benzimidazole compound that binds to the tubulin proteins and inhibits their polymerization. It has been shown to have anthelmintic properties in several species of animals. In a recent study, fenbendazole was also shown to exert in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activities in a variety of human cancer cell lines and genitourinary malignancies.
This suggests that if more research is done on the drug, it may have potential as an alternative or supplemental therapy for some patients with certain types of cancer. Other benzimidazole compounds, such as metronidazole and albendazole, have also been shown to exhibit anti-tumor activity in human ovarian and cervical cancers.
As the current standard of care for most gastrointestinal cancers is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, it would be extremely difficult to establish the efficacy of a new treatment based on fenbendazole alone. Nevertheless, some people are choosing to self-administer the medication as part of a protocol called the Joe Tippens Protocol.
According to the nonprofit organization Cancer Research UK, this is a misleading claim that hasn’t been supported by any clinical trials or other scientific evidence. Tippens himself was a participant in a cancer trial while taking fenbendazole, and his improvement was likely due to the combination of conventional treatments that he received.
For this reason, anyone who wishes to try fenbendazole should consult their healthcare provider before doing so. They should also consider seeking a second opinion from a healthcare professional if their initial cancer diagnosis is uncertain or they are considering a more aggressive treatment approach. This is especially important if they have preexisting conditions, such as hepatitis or HIV/AIDS. They should also discuss their dietary and supplement regimen with their healthcare provider. They should avoid consuming raw oysters, pork or lamb kidney, brain, or liver, and shouldn’t take vitamin D supplements unless prescribed. The supplement can lead to a deficiency of vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health. fenbendazole for humans
