Effect of the antiparasitic drug mebendazole on cholangiocarcinoma growth

Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth, Tara Williamson, Sopit Wongkham, Gregory J. Riggins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mebendazole (MBZ) is an anthelmintic drug which inhibits tubulin polymerization and eventually causes apoptosis in target organisms. Antitumor activity of MBZ has been reported in various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MBZ on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells in vitro and in vivo. MBZ reduced cell proliferation in the KKU-M213 cell line associated with a remarkable enhancement of caspase-3 gene expression and enzyme activity. Oral administration of MBZ slightly reduced the growth rate of subcutaneously xeno-grafted KKU-M213 in nude mice. The TUNEL assay showed an increase of apoptotic cell numbers in the xenograft tumor tissue of MBZ-treated mice. The data obtained in this study suggested that MBZ can suppress CCA cell proliferation via caspase-3 activated apoptosis. Further investigation of the antitumor effects of MBZ might support the use of MBZ as an alternative drug for CCA treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1264-1270
Number of pages7
JournalSoutheast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Volume45
Issue number6
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Caspase-3
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Mebendazole

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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