Pilot Study of Albendazole in Patients with Advanced Malignancy
Abstract
Our preclinical studies have shown that the widely used antiparasitic drug albendazole has potent antiproliferative activity against colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This trial was designed to evaluate albendazole in a small number of patients (n = 7) with either HCC or CRC and hepatic metastases refractory to other forms of therapy. Albendazole was given at 10 mg/kg/day orally in two divided doses for a period of 28 days. To follow the effect of treatment, tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or α-feto protein (AFP), were measured routinely in these patients. A range of hematological and biochemical indices were also serially measured to monitor bone marrow, kidney or liver toxicity. Albendazole therapy resulted in a decrease in CEA in 2 patients. In the remaining 5 with measurable tumor markers, serum CEA or AFP was stabilized in 3 patients, while in the other 2, after an initial stabilization (5–10 days), the markers began to increase. In the 7 patients completing the trial, albendazole was well tolerated and there were no significant changes in any hematological, kidney or liver function tests, but 3 patients were withdrawn for severe neutropenia which was probably contributory to the death of 1 patient. These data support our previous experimental results demonstrating that albendazole has antitumor effects.
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When albendazole and mebendazole are used for prolonged periods to treat tissue helminthiases, cancers, or even once as preventive chemotherapy for intestinal helminths, liver toxicity, allergic reactions, and rarely severe myelosuppression (in particular, neutropenia) may occur.
“However, when these drugs are used for prolonged periods to treat tissue helminthiases [36], cancers [37,38], or even when they are used just for once as preventive chemotherapy for intestinal helminths [39], liver toxicity, allergic reactions, and rarely severe myelosuppression (in particular, neutropenia) may occur.”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
A pilot study using albendazole (10 mg/kg daily for 28 days) for treatment of 7 colorectal or hepatocellular carcinoma patients reported fatality in 1 patient presumably due to albendazole toxicity, in particular, severe neutropenia.
“Importantly, however, a pilot study using albendazole (10 mg/kg daily for 28 days) for treatment of 7 colorectal or hepatocellular carcinoma patients reported fatality in 1 patient presumably due to albendazole toxicity, in particular, severe neutropenia [37].”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
In the remaining 2 patients, CEA or AFP levels, after initial stabilization during 5-10 days, began to increase again.
“In the remaining 2 patients, CEA or AFP levels, after initial stabilization during 5–10 days, began to increase again [37].”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
Long-term (28 days) treatment with albendazole was well tolerated, and there were no significant changes in hematological, kidney or liver function tests.
“Long-term (28 days) treatment with albendazole was well tolerated, and there were no significant changes in hematological, kidney or liver function tests [37].”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
However, 3 of the 9 patients treated with albendazole developed severe neutropenia which was probably contributory to the death of 1 patient.
“However, 3 of the 9 patients treated with albendazole developed severe neutropenia which was probably contributory to the death of 1 patient [37].”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
In a pilot clinical study of 9 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma with liver metastasis (n=7), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=1), or mesothelioma/carcinoid tumor in the liver and pleura (n=1), albendazole treatment (10 mg/kg daily for 28 days) resulted in a decrease in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or α-feto protein (AFP) levels in 2 patients, and these markers were stabilized in 3 patients
“Out of 7 patients in whom serum tumor markers could be measured, albendazole treatment (10 mg/kg daily for 28 days) resulted in a decrease in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or α-feto protein (AFP) levels in 2 patients, and these markers were stabilized in 3 patients [37].”
From Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
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Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update
Chai, J.-Y., Jung, B.-K., & Hong, S.-J. (2021) · The Korean Journal of Parasitology · doi:10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.189 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Repurposing of Benzimidazole Anthelmintic Drugs as Cancer Therapeutics
Song, B., Park, E. Y., Kim, K. J., & Ki, S. H. (2022) · Cancers · doi:10.3390/cancers14194601 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
- Authors
- Morris, D. L., Jourdan, J.-L., & Pourgholami, M. H.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Venue
- Oncology
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2001
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 42-46
- ISSN
- 0030-2414 (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0232
- OpenAlex
- W1999972773
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cancer therapeutics and mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis
- Keywords
- albendazole, antiparasitic drug repurposing, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, liver metastasis, refractory cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, tumor markers, neutropenia, drug toxicity, antiproliferative activity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Antineoplastic Agents, Blood Cell Count, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Biomarkers, Tumor, Colorectal Neoplasms, Albendazole, Treatment Outcome
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