Fenben lab fenben is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against gastrointestinal helminths (ascarids, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and a single species of tapeworm). It has recently been shown to also exhibit anti-tumor activity in animal models. It acts as an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization which blocks cell-cycle progression by blocking the interaction between cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), thus inducing mitotic catastrophe. This may lead to decreased cell proliferation and antineoplastic effect.
In this study, diets supplemented with either fenbendazole or vitamin A, C and E were fed to SCID mice that had previously been subcutaneously flank implanted with 3 x 107 lymphoma cells. Tumor volume was measured three times a week until the largest tumor reached a calculated volume of 1500 mm3. Injection with fenbendazole or vitamins alone did not alter the growth of the lymphoma cells but when both fenbendazole and supplemental vitamin injections were combined, there was significant inhibition of cancer tumor growth. The synergistic effect of these supplements is intriguing and merits further investigation.
Complete blood counts on the arrival of the mice to the study site showed that initial white cell counts were comparable between test and control groups. However, at study termination all fenbendazole plus vitamin group mice had significantly smaller total white cell and neutrophil counts than did control mice. This is consistent with significantly smaller tumors causing less compression and necrosis of adjacent tissues. fenben lab fenbendazol