Fenben lab fenbendazol is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used for the control of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs, cats and horses. It is particularly useful in treating a wide variety of intestinal hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and certain types of tapeworms (but not Dipylidium caninum, the common dog tapeworm). It is also effective against the lungworms giardia, trichomoniasis, paragonimiasis, strongyloides, and pinworms. This broad spectrum anthelmintic is safe for pregnant mares, stallions and foals.
This drug is also commonly used off-label in veterinary medicine to treat various parasites in pets, such as hookworms and roundworms. It is available as oral granules and liquid suspension, and must be administered to the pet by mouth. It is important to follow the veterinarian’s instructions and cautions carefully when giving fenbendazole. It is generally given with food to reduce gastrointestinal upset.
Some studies suggest that fenbendazole may slow cancer cell growth in cells growing in the laboratory (in vitro). This effect is thought to be due to its ability to interfere with the formation of microtubules, a protein scaffolding that gives cells their shape and structure. Textbook depictions of cells often portray what appear to be various cellular components floating in amorphous bags of liquid, but in fact, the cell establishes its shape and size through a highly dynamic protein scaffolding called the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is made of microtubules, which are in turn made up of a protein called tubulin. Drugs that inhibit the function of this complex protein network disrupt cellular processes, including cell division.
In one study, fenbendazole caused the clumping of chromosomes within cells during mitosis. This is the process by which cells divide to create two identical copies of each parent cell, and it requires that the chromosomes be lined up in a metaphase cell before they can be separated evenly during anaphase. Anaphase and anaphase are controlled by microtubules, and the even separation of chromosomes during division is essential for human and other organisms to maintain normal growth and development.
Although this effect is interesting, the evidence from randomized trials of fenbendazole’s antitumor effects isn’t yet sufficient to support claims that it can cure cancer. There could be other reasons for Tippens’ remission, such as conventional cancer treatments that weren’t accounted for, or his anecdotal experience might simply be a statistical outlier.
Until further research is done, it would be unwise for anyone to start taking fenbendazole as a treatment for cancer. Moreover, fenbendazole can cause serious side effects, including liver failure, in people with poor liver or kidney function. The risk is particularly high for people who are undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments that can increase the chance of liver damage. It is also important to discuss any dietary supplements or other medications with your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.