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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Quantitation of Intra-peritoneal Ovarian Cancer Metastasis
Published on: July 18, 2016
Evaluating the Efficacy of Mebendazole Repurposing for Ovarian Cancer Therapy Using Optical Coherence Tomography
Rajani Rai1, Qinghao Zhang2, Bornface M Mutembei2
1Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Abstract:
Ovarian cancer (OvCa) remains the leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality, with most patients developing chemoresistance. Drug repurposing offers promising alternatives, with mebendazole (MBZ) showing anticancer activity. This study evaluates MBZ efficacy using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). We conducted longitudinal imaging of 40 wild-type (WT) and cisplatin-resistant (CPR) OVCAR8 multicellular tumor spheroids over 11 days. Four analyses were performed: volume analysis, optical attenuation analysis, uniformity analysis, and texture feature analysis. Volume analysis showed MBZ reduced spheroid growth in both groups, with greater effects in CPR-MCTs. Optical attenuation analysis revealed increased necrotic tissue ratios in treated spheroids. Uniformity analysis demonstrated MBZ targets heterogeneous tissues effectively. Texture analysis identified significant structural changes, with 866 altered features in CPR spheroids versus 124 in WT spheroids. Cell viability assays confirmed MBZ's effectiveness against standard and chemo-resistant OVCAR8 tumors. This study demonstrates SD-OCT's utility for noninvasive therapy monitoring in 3D cancer models.
Insights
Mebendazole (MBZ) effectively reduced ovarian cancer spheroid growth, particularly in chemo-resistant models. Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) noninvasively monitored these therapeutic effects in 3D cancer models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is a leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality.
- Chemoresistance is a major challenge in OvCa treatment.
- Drug repurposing, like using mebendazole (MBZ), offers potential therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole (MBZ) in ovarian cancer models.
- To assess the utility of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) for monitoring MBZ treatment.
- To investigate MBZ's effects on both wild-type (WT) and cisplatin-resistant (CPR) OVCAR8 multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTs).
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal SD-OCT imaging of 40 WT and CPR OVCAR8 MCTs over 11 days.
- Quantitative analyses including volume, optical attenuation, uniformity, and texture feature analysis.
- Cell viability assays to confirm MBZ's anti-cancer effects.
Main Results:
- MBZ significantly reduced spheroid growth in both WT and CPR groups, with a more pronounced effect in CPR-MCTs.
- Optical attenuation analysis indicated increased necrotic tissue in MBZ-treated spheroids.
- Texture analysis revealed substantial structural alterations, especially in CPR spheroids (866 features vs. 124 in WT).
- SD-OCT effectively monitored treatment response noninvasively.
Conclusions:
- Mebendazole demonstrates significant anti-cancer activity against ovarian cancer, including chemo-resistant subtypes.
- SD-OCT is a valuable tool for noninvasive, real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses in 3D cancer models.
- This study supports MBZ as a potential repurposed drug for ovarian cancer treatment and highlights SD-OCT's role in therapy assessment.
