This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mukhopadhyay, T. Articles by Roth, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mukhopadhyay, T. Articles by Roth, J. A.

Mebendazole Elicits a Potent Antitumor Effect on Human Cancer Cell Lines Both in Vitro and in Vivo¹

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030

We have found that mebendazole (MZ), a derivative of benzimidazole, induces a dose- and time-dependent apoptotic response in human lung cancer cell lines. In this study, MZ arrested cells at the G₂-M phase before the onset of apoptosis, as detected by using fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. MZ treatment also resulted in mitochondrial cytochrome c release, followed by apoptotic cell death. Additionally, MZ appeared to be a potent inhibitor of tumor cell growth with little toxicity to normal WI38 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. When administered p.o. to nu/nu mice, MZ strongly inhibited the growth of human tumor xenografts and significantly reduced the number and size of tumors in an experimental model of lung metastasis. In assessing angiogenesis, we found significantly reduced vessel densities in MZ-treated mice compared with those in control mice. These results suggest that MZ is effective in the treatment of cancer and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Hossein Pourgholami, Z. Yan Cai, Y. Lu, L. Wang, and D. Lawson Morris Albendazole: a Potent Inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Malignant Ascites Formation in OVCAR-3 Tumor-Bearing Nude Mice. Clin. Cancer Res., March 15, 2006; 12(6): 1928 - 1935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-i. Sasaki, R. Ramesh, S. Chada, Y. Gomyo, J. A. Roth, and T. Mukhopadhyay The Anthelmintic Drug Mebendazole Induces Mitotic Arrest and Apoptosis by Depolymerizing Tubulin in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Mol. Cancer Ther., November 1, 2002; 1(13): 1201 - 1209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]