The Antitumor Potentials of Benzimidazole Anthelmintics as Repurposing Drugs

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Oncology
• Drug Repurposing

Background:

• Refractory tumors pose a significant challenge in cancer therapy, driven by mechanisms promoting proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival.
• Benzimidazole anthelmintics are established antiparasitic agents with a history of safe use in human and veterinary medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anticancer properties of benzimidazole anthelmintics.
• To explore their potential as adjuvant or alternative cancer treatments, particularly for resistant tumors.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies on benzimidazole anthelmintics.
• Analysis of anticancer effects in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials.
• Focus on specific compounds: albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole.

Main Results:

• Benzimidazole anthelmintics exhibit diverse antitumorigenic activities, including microtubule disruption, apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest (G2/M), anti-angiogenesis, and glucose transport inhibition.
• These effects are observed in various cancer models, including those resistant to standard therapies.
• Combination therapy with conventional treatments enhances efficacy, highlighting their potential as adjuvants.

Conclusions:

• Benzimidazole anthelmintics demonstrate broad-spectrum anticancer potential with a favorable safety profile due to their established use.
• They offer a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment options, potentially enhancing patient quality of life by reducing side effects.