Can You Use Fenbendazole and TikTok to Cure Cancer?

Fenbendazole, a widely used antihelminthic drug, has gained popularity on social media as a “cure” for cancer after Joe Tippens, a Canadian, claimed the dewormer alongside other supplements cured him of small-cell lung cancer in 2016. Since then, several unlicensed veterinarians have posted videos on Facebook and TikTok claiming to use fenbendazole in combination with various other alternative medicine techniques to treat cancer.

A few studies have found fenbendazole (FZ) can kill cancer cells in vitro, but more research is needed to understand how this drug works and whether it could be effective against other types of cancers. One hypothesis is that fenbendazole disrupts the cell cycle, which causes the cancer cells to stop growing or divide and potentially die off. Another is that fenbendazole targets microtubules and inhibits their movement, which also may prevent the cancer cells from growing.

To examine this further, scientists analyzed fenbendazole’s effects on human cancer cells and normal controls. In particular, the team tested how fenbendazole affected the expression of two genes known to be involved in glucose uptake: Glut-4 transporter and hexokinase II. They found that FZ exposure reduced the expression of these genes in cancer cells and inhibited glucose uptake. They also tested how fenbendazole affects cell viability by using a colony formation assay in EMT6 mammary tumor cells. They found that high doses of fenbendazole significantly reduced the clonogenicity of these cells and inhibited cell proliferation.

Scientists also investigated whether fenbendazole synergistically worked with radiation or docetaxel, which are both well-established anticancer drugs. In both cases, fenbendazole enhanced the cytotoxicity of these agents against EMT6 mammary tumor cells. However, despite the additive effects of FZ and these conventional treatments, they were still not able to fully stop the growth of EMT6 tumors in mice.

FZ’s ability to block glucose uptake suggests it can interfere with cellular metabolism, which might explain how it can reduce cancer cell growth and promote apoptosis. Other researchers have suggested that the drug might work by preventing the accumulation of ATP, which is required for mitosis.

The fenbendazole protocol recommends 222 mg of the drug per day, taken seven days a week in oral granule form or liquid suspension. The dosage can be adjusted depending on the person’s health history and body weight. Regardless of how the medication is administered, it is important to take it as directed to avoid any potential side effects.fenben for cancer