The use of
albendazole and
mebendazole, i.e.,
benzimidazole broad-spectrum
anthelmintics, in treatment of
parasitic infections, as well as
cancers, is briefly reviewed. These drugs are known to block the microtubule systems of parasites and mammalian cells leading to inhibition of
glucose uptake and transport and finally cell death. Eventually they exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal, and vermicidal effects on parasites, and tumoricidal effects on hosts.
Albendazole and
mebendazole are most frequently prescribed for treatment of intestinal
nematode infections (
ascariasis,
hookworm infections,
trichuriasis,
strongyloidiasis, and
enterobiasis) and can also be used for intestinal
tapeworm infections (
taeniases and
hymenolepiasis). However, these drugs also exhibit considerable
therapeutic effects against tissue nematode/
cestode infections (visceral, ocular, neural, and
cutaneous larva migrans,
anisakiasis,
trichinosis, hepatic and
intestinal capillariasis,
angiostrongyliasis,
gnathostomiasis, gongylonemiasis, thelaziasis,
dracunculiasis, cerebral and subcutaneous
cysticercosis, and
echinococcosis).
Albendazole is also used for treatment of filarial
infections (
lymphatic filariasis,
onchocerciasis,
loiasis,
mansonellosis, and
dirofilariasis) alone or in combination with other drugs, such as
ivermectin or
diethylcarbamazine.
Albendazole was tried even for treatment of trematode (
fascioliasis,
clonorchiasis,
opisthorchiasis, and intestinal fluke
infections) and
protozoan infections (
giardiasis, vaginal
trichomoniasis,
cryptosporidiosis, and
microsporidiosis). These drugs are generally safe with few side effects; however, when they are used for prolonged time (>14-28 days) or even only 1 time, liver toxicity and other side reactions may occur. In hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, possibly Ascaris lumbricoides, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Giardia sp., there are emerging issues of drug resistance. It is of particular note that
albendazole and
mebendazole have been repositioned as promising anti-
cancer drugs. These drugs have been shown to be active in vitro and in vivo (animals) against liver, lung, ovary, prostate, colorectal, breast, head and
neck cancers, and
melanoma. Two clinical reports for
albendazole and 2 case reports for
mebendazole have revealed promising effects of these drugs in human patients having variable types of
cancers. However, because of the toxicity of
albendazole, for example,
neutropenia due to myelosuppression, if high doses are used for a prolonged time,
mebendazole is currently more popularly used than
albendazole in anti-
cancer clinical trials.