Cancer: the case for repurposing cheap, off-patent mebendazole — mostly lab evidence, two case reports

Before you act: Don't stop, replace, or delay any cancer treatment without talking to your oncologist.

“No clinical trials of MBZ as a cancer treatment have been completed to date.”

Evidence level

Review of preclinical (cell and animal) studies plus two human case reports. "No clinical trials of MBZ as a cancer treatment have been completed" at the time.

Funding

Authors are from the Anticancer Fund (Belgian private foundation) and GlobalCures (US nonprofit); no separate funding statement found.

What was published

A Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project review of the deworming drug mebendazole.

What it shows

Mebendazole "has anti-cancer properties that have been elucidated in a broad range of pre-clinical studies," and "there are also two case reports of anti-cancer activity in humans." The authors call it a "low-cost agent" and propose trials; they argue lack of commercial incentive slows such research.

What it does not show

Preclinical findings and two case reports do not show mebendazole treats cancer in people. Benefit in humans was not established.

Documented counterpoints

Many repurposing candidates that look good in the lab fail in trials; oncologists caution against self-treatment. Mebendazole is an approved human drug, but not for cancer.

Source link

• ecancermedicalscience 2014;8:443, DOI