Fenben (methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate), sold under the brand names Safe-Guard and Panacur, is an anthelmintic used to treat hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and certain types of tapeworm in animals. It also debuted in scientific trials some years ago as a cancer treatment, but was shelved because of low success rates. However, the drug has reappeared in the spotlight because of a widely circulated story of a man who treated his small cell lung cancer using it.
While a few other animal anthelmintics have shown promise as cancer treatments, there is not much scientific evidence that they can effectively cure human tumors. However, many cancer patients are attempting to use animal anthelmintics, known as antiparasitics, in conjunction with other conventional treatments.
Research has shown that anthelmintics can prevent parasites from growing, but these drugs can also cause serious side effects in humans. It is important to talk to your doctor before trying any new medication or treatment plan.
Earlier studies have reported that benzimidazole compounds can inhibit glucose uptake and starve cancer cells by interfering with their energy metabolism. Cancer cell metabolism is usually different from that of normal cells, and this difference has been exploited to target cancer cells.
The researchers found that fenbendazole significantly inhibited the uptake of glucose into H460 and A549 human NSCLC cells, suggesting that the effect is at least partly mediated by the inhibition of GLUT 4 expression in cells. Glucose uptake is regulated by insulin, and the GLUT 4 protein allows glucose to enter cells. fenben for humans