News & Clinical Trials

Curated updates on clinical trials, peer-reviewed papers, and reputable coverage related to compounds discussed on this site for cancer and other serious diseases. This page is informational only — not medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional. No entry implies proven efficacy.

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18 of 103 entries, newest first
DateCompoundTitle TypePhaseStatus
Mebendazole PLoS One: Mebendazole restores gefitinib activity in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer models
Summary

Preclinical study (El-Tanani et al.): in gefitinib-resistant EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells (HCC827 GR5), gefitinib alone barely reduced viability (92.7%), while mebendazole 0.1 µM + gefitinib 1 µM cut viability to 37.7%, with increased DNA damage and γ-H2AX replication-stress signaling. In a mouse model the combination slowed tumor growth (doubling time 6.2 to 25 days) without obvious systemic toxicity. Cell and animal data only; not tested in patients.

In vitro + xenograft · 2026
Animal study Preclinical
IvermectinMebendazole RETRACTED: Ivermectin + mebendazole observational cohort (Anticancer Research / Hulscher et al.)
Summary

The June 2026 Anticancer Research self-reported telemedicine cohort of ivermectin plus mebendazole (Hulscher et al.; Anticancer Res 2026 Jun;46(6):3243-3255; original PMID 42203321; DOI 10.21873/anticanres.18194; n=197 enrolled / 122 follow-up) claimed a high rate of clinical benefit. Fully retracted October 2026 (Anticancer Res 2026 Oct;46(10):5877; PMID 42823188; DOI 10.21873/anticanres.18425). Timeline: Expression of Concern 9 Jun 2026 (PMID 42300708), update Sep 2026 (PMID 42703869), full retraction Oct 2026. Grounds were methodological and analytical problems after post-publication review, independent expert assessment, and the authors' appeal — not fabrication. Do not cite the unretracted framing as supporting evidence. Retraction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42823188/. Evidence level: retraction notice.

Retraction notice
Retraction
Mebendazole Nature Communications: mebendazole blocks the OCTN1 transporter and slows cervical and lung cancer cell growth
Summary

Preclinical study (Xu et al.): researchers solved cryo-EM structures of the human OCTN1 transporter, which has been linked to cancer cell growth and invasion. Structure-based virtual screening then identified mebendazole as a potent OCTN1 inhibitor, and mebendazole suppressed the proliferation of cervical and lung cancer cells. Structural and cell-culture data only; not tested in animals or patients in this report.

Structural + in vitro · 2026
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Cell Physiol Biochem: mebendazole plus flutamide inhibits prostate cancer cells more than either drug alone
Summary

Preclinical study (Fattahi et al., Tehran University of Medical Sciences): in three prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC3), combining mebendazole with the anti-androgen flutamide reduced cell viability, colony formation and migration more than either drug alone, and increased apoptosis. Mebendazole IC50 was about 55 µM. Authors suggest the combination could allow lower flutamide doses. Cell-culture data only; not tested in animals or patients.

In vitro · 2026
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Cell Reports Medicine (2026): ketogenic diet enhances mebendazole + devimistat in juvenile HGG models
Summary

Mouse study reporting that nutritional ketosis may enhance therapeutic effects of mebendazole combined with CPI-613 (devimistat) in juvenile high-grade glioma models. Evidence level: preclinical animal only.

Mouse HGG · 2026
Animal study Preclinical
Mebendazole Oncology Research (2026): mebendazole antiproliferative/antimigratory effects in paediatric LGG models
Summary

Preclinical evaluation of mebendazole in paediatric low-grade glioma models showing antiproliferative and antimigratory effects. Evidence level: preclinical — complements existing pediatric glioma trial listings.

In vitro models · 2026
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Br J Clin Pharmacol (2026): systematic review of mebendazole repurposing for brain tumours
Summary

Systematic review synthesizing preclinical and clinical evidence for mebendazole in primary brain tumours, including CNS penetrance and multimodal anticancer mechanisms. Evidence level: systematic review — summarizes, does not replace, controlled trials.

Systematic review · 2026
Review
IvermectinMebendazole J Biol Chem abstract: ivermectin, mebendazole and albendazole tested together in colorectal cancer cells
Summary

Meeting abstract (Reynolds and Fly, J Biol Chem vol. 302 suppl., Abstract 4275): reports lab tests of the antiparasitic drugs ivermectin, mebendazole and albendazole in colorectal cancer cells, with the authors describing selective and synergistic anticancer activity. This is a short conference abstract, not a full peer-reviewed paper, and results are in lab cells only; not tested in people.

Conference abstract · lab (cell lines) · 2026
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Chem Biol Interact: mebendazole slowed gastric cancer cells in the lab by hitting nucleotide-building enzymes
Summary

Lab study (da Silva et al., Brazil): in gastric cancer cell lines, mebendazole reduced cell growth about as much as the chemotherapy drug 5-FU, with less toxicity to non-cancer cells. It lowered expression of nucleotide-metabolism genes (TYMS, MTHFD1, HPRT1, PRPS1), stopped cells in the G0/G1 phase, and computer docking suggested it binds PRPS1 and HPRT1. Patient tumor data linked higher levels of these genes to worse survival. Results are in lab cells and computer models only; not tested in people.

Lab study (cell lines) · 2026
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole PLoS One: mebendazole plus gefitinib cut lung and breast cancer cell growth in the lab
Summary

Lab study (El-Tanani et al.): in A549 lung cancer and MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells, gefitinib 1 µM plus mebendazole 0.5 µM reduced cell viability to about 8-10% and 15%, well below either drug alone. In the lung cells the combination lowered inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and changed genes tied to cell division and nuclear transport. Lab cells only; not tested in animals or people.

Lab study (cell lines) · 2025
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Neuro-Oncology Practice: Phase 1 mebendazole monotherapy in refractory pediatric brain tumors (NCT02644291)
Summary

Peer-reviewed Phase 1 (n=17; Johns Hopkins / All Children’s): oral mebendazole up to 2500 mg/m²/day was tolerable with no dose-limiting toxicities; mean PFS 7.6 weeks (range 2–24). Authors conclude limited evidence of single-agent efficacy in refractory/progressive pediatric brain tumors. Complements the existing registry listing for NCT02644291.

Phase I published · limited efficacy
Clinical trial Phase 1
Mebendazole Neuro-Oncology Advances (2025): mebendazole + radiation in IDH-mutant glioma models
Summary

Preclinical work exploring mebendazole combined with radiation therapy in an IDH-mutant glioma context. Evidence level: preclinical — not human efficacy data.

Preclinical · RT combination 2025
Lab study Preclinical
Mebendazole Phase I mebendazole for recurrent/progressive pediatric brain tumors (NCT02644291) — completed Older
Summary

Completed Johns Hopkins Phase I safety study of mebendazole in children/young adults with recurrent medulloblastoma or high-grade glioma / DIPG. Evidence level: completed Phase I; registry results should be reviewed separately.

Phase I · completed
Clinical trial Phase 1 Completed
Mebendazole [Older] Life Sciences (2022): mebendazole + FOLFOX4/bevacizumab in mCRC (NCT03925662) Older
Summary

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled report (n=40) claiming higher overall response (65% vs 10%) and longer PFS (9.25 vs 3 months) with mebendazole 500 mg BID added to bevacizumab/FOLFOX4. Evidence level: small single-center RCT; needs independent replication before practice change.

Small RCT · older · needs replication
Clinical trial
MebendazoleFenbendazole Mebendazole + temozolomide in newly diagnosed high-grade glioma (NCT01729260) — completed Older
Summary

Completed Johns Hopkins Phase I dose-finding study of mebendazole with temozolomide after chemoradiation. Protocol notes preclinical fenbendazole observations led investigators to select mebendazole for human testing. Evidence level: completed Phase I; not proof of clinical benefit.

Phase I · completed
Clinical trial Phase 1 Completed
Mebendazole Mebendazole as adjuvant treatment for colon cancer (NCT03925662) — recruiting Older
Summary

Tanta University Phase III–labeled randomized study of mebendazole added to FOLFOX + bevacizumab in colorectal cancer. Evidence level: registry lists recruiting; interpret published companion results cautiously and independently.

Phase III · recruiting
Clinical trial Phase 3 Recruiting
Mebendazole RepoMeb: mebendazole in advanced GI cancer or CUP (NCT03628079) — terminated Older
Summary

Phase 2a TDM-guided study of mebendazole in advanced gastrointestinal cancer or cancer of unknown origin. Terminated for lack of effect (n=11). Evidence level: small terminated early-phase study — negative signal in this setting.

Phase 2a · terminated (no effect)
Clinical trial Phase 2 Terminated
Mebendazole Mebendazole with standard chemo for pediatric gliomas (NCT01837862) Older
Summary

Phase I/II Northwell/Cohen Children's study of oral mebendazole plus standard regimens in pediatric low- and high-grade gliomas / DIPG. Status: active, not recruiting. Evidence level: early-phase combination safety/efficacy study.

Phase I/II · active, not recruiting
Clinical trial Phase 1/2 Active, not recruiting

Reminder: Links and summaries are for exploration only. They do not imply safety, efficacy, or endorsement. Prefer peer-reviewed full papers and ClinicalTrials.gov records over headlines. Do your own due diligence and speak with a healthcare provider.

Edited Oct 21, 2026