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The Antitumor Potentials of Benzimidazole Anthelmintics as Repurposing Drugs

  • Deok-Soo Son (Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College) ;
  • Eun-Sook Lee (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University) ;
  • Samuel E. Adunyah (Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College)
  • Received : 2020.06.15
  • Accepted : 2020.07.21
  • Published : 2020.08.31
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Abstract

The development of refractory tumor cells limits therapeutic efficacy in cancer by activating mechanisms that promote cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. Benzimidazole anthelmintics have broad-spectrum action to remove parasites both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to being antiparasitic agents, benzimidazole anthelmintics are known to exert anticancer activities, such as the disruption of microtubule polymerization, the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle (G2/M) arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and blockage of glucose transport. These antitumorigenic effects even extend to cancer cells resistant to approved therapies and when in combination with conventional therapeutics, enhance anticancer efficacy and hold promise as adjuvants. Above all, these anthelmintics may offer a broad, safe spectrum to treat cancer, as demonstrated by their long history of use as antiparasitic agents. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics, including albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials. This review provides valuable information on how to improve the quality of life in patients with cancers by increasing the treatment options and decreasing side effects from conventional therapy.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported, in whole or in part, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the following grants: NCI SC1CA200519 (D.S.) and U54CA163069 (S.E.A. and D.S.); RCMI 5U54AMD007586 (S.E.A.); and R01ES024756 (E.L.). Research contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Editing services were provided by the Meharry Office of Scientific Editing and Publications (NIH S21MD000104).

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