Fenbendazole and Salivary Gland Cancer: Exploring the Anticancer Potential of Repurposed Drugs (March 2025 Edition)

There is limited publicly available, peer-reviewed evidence specifically documenting success stories of Fenbendazole and Ivermectin use in treating salivary gland cancer in humans. Both drugs, traditionally used as antiparasitics (Fenbendazole in veterinary medicine and Ivermectin in humans and animals), have gained attention for their potential anticancer properties based on preclinical studies and anecdotal reports. However, clinical data remains scarce, particularly for rare cancers like salivary gland cancer. Below, we’ll summarize the available context and relevant anecdotal evidence.

Background on Salivary Gland Cancer

Salivary gland cancer is a rare malignancy affecting the salivary glands (e.g., parotid, submandibular, or sublingual glands), with subtypes like adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Standard treatments include surgery, radiation, and sometimes chemotherapy, but outcomes vary depending on stage and subtype, with advanced cases often having limited options.

Editor's Note: My brother has been diagnosed with Stage 4 salivary gland cancer. I dedicate this article to him and will thoroughly research and explore all available options in as much detail as possible.

1. Antiparasitic Agents: Ivermectin, Fenbendazole and Mebendazole

• Ivermectin: Primarily known as an antiparasitic, ivermectin has demonstrated anticancer properties in preclinical studies, including inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. However, clinical trials validating its efficacy and safety in cancer patients are lacking.​

• Fenbendazole: Used to treat parasitic infections in animals, fenbendazole has shown potential anticancer effects in laboratory settings. For instance, a study observed that a combination of fenbendazole and supplemented vitamins inhibited tumor growth in mice. However, fenbendazole alone did not exhibit significant anticancer activity, and its safety and effectiveness in humans remain unproven. ​(PMC)

• Mebendazole: An antiparasitic used in humans, mebendazole has shown promise in preclinical studies and limited clinical trials for certain cancers, such as glioblastoma. It appears to disrupt cancer cell metabolism and interfere with microtubule formation. Despite these findings, more extensive clinical research is necessary to establish its role in cancer therapy (CancerChoices). Mebendazole is an FDA-approved benzimidazole with a good safety profile, which has been widely used to treat parasitic diseases, mainly due to the fact of its tubulin binding capacity and prevention of microtubule polymerization. As an anthelmintic, common presentation of mebendazole is in 100 mg tablets, with indications for 100 mg as a single dose to 100–200 mg/day. Its mechanism of action has been linked to in vitro antiproliferative activity against cancer cells, but preclinical anticancer research also identified its ability to bind and inhibit signaling of selective tyrosine kinases including VEGFR2, TNIK, and BRAF. It crosses the blood–brain barrier and evidence supports the use of mebendazole for both therapeutic and preventive purposes in the treatment of brain and colon cancers. Mebendazole is now being tested in clinical studies for glioblastoma, pediatric brain tumors, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, prostatic cancer, and breast cancer (PubMed).

• OneDayMD.com (February 2025): A case in the "Fenbendazole Cancer Success Stories" compilation describes a patient diagnosed with stage 4 salivary gland cancer in April 2023. After surgery, light chemotherapy, and 30 rounds of radiation, scans were clear by August 2023. However, by March 2024, the cancer recurred with metastases to the spine, tailbone, liver, lung, and pelvis. The patient began an Ivermectin and Fenbendazole protocol "a few months" prior to February 2025 (likely late 2024). The report lacks follow-up details on outcomes, stating only that the patient was "on the protocol for a few months now." 

• Joe Tippens Case: Tippens, diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in 2016, famously claimed remission after using Fenbendazole (222 mg/day) alongside curcumin, CBD oil, and vitamin E. His story, while widely circulated (e.g., OneDayMD.com, 2025), is anecdotal and not specific to salivary gland cancer.

• A case in the "Chris Beat Cancer Survivor Stories" compilation describes a patient diagnosed with parotid salivary gland cancer: "So I researched this type of treatment and discovered that radiation for parotid salivary gland cancer did not add one day to life expectancy. Chemo was not recommended, because the cancer was early stage. However, research also shows that there is no chemo that will increase life expectancy for salivary gland cancer either. Yet, I’ve spoken with a man who was given chemo anyway for parotid salivary gland cancer." "...refuses radiation, chooses nutrition and supplements to heal salivary cancer"

• General Testimonials: Compilations like "Fenbendazole and Ivermectin Cancer Success Stories" (OneDayMD.com, March 2025) include cases like a 60s-year-old prostate cancer patient and a 40s-year-old lung cancer patient reporting tumor shrinkage with Ivermectin (1 mg/kg/day) and Fenbendazole (444 mg/day). A specific case from this source mentions a patient with stage 4 cancer (type unspecified) starting these drugs in August 2024, reporting stable disease and shrinking tumors by November 2024. However, none explicitly mention salivary gland cancer.

• X Posts: Posts on X (e.g., from @MakisMD, February 2025) highlight a 60s-year-old patient with squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue—near the salivary glands—achieving cancer-free status after six months on Ivermectin and Fenbendazole. Another post mentions a 71-year-old with stage 4 oropharynx cancer seeing tumor shrinkage. While anatomically close, these are not salivary gland cancers but suggest potential relevance.

2. Vitamins

• Vitamin D3 and K2: Vitamin D3 supplementation has been associated with reduced cancer mortality and improved survival in some studies. Vitamin K2 works synergistically with Vitamin D3, particularly in bone health, but its direct anticancer effects are less clear. ​(Preprints)

3. Natural Compounds

• Curcumin: Derived from turmeric, curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Preclinical studies suggest it may inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis. However, its bioavailability is low, and clinical evidence supporting its efficacy in cancer treatment is limited.​

• Berberine: Found in various plants, berberine has demonstrated anticancer effects in laboratory studies, including inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells. Clinical data supporting its use in cancer patients are minimal.​

4. Cimetidine (CIM)

Commonly used to treat heartburn and peptic ulcers, cimetidine has shown potential anticancer effects by inhibiting tumor cell adhesion and angiogenesis. 

The anti-cancer action of CIM has been shown to be due to four distinct mechanisms:

• Anti-proliferative action on cancer cells
• Immunomodulatory effects
• Effects on cell adhesion
• Anti-angiogenic action

The inhibitory effect on cell adhesion has been demonstrated for salivary gland cancers (BMC Cancer 2008).

Some studies suggest it may enhance survival in certain cancers, but clinical evidence specific to salivary gland cancer is lacking. (Ecancer 2014)

Research Gaps

No clinical trials or peer-reviewed studies as of March 2025, specifically evaluate Fenbendazole or Ivermectin for salivary gland cancer. Preclinical data (e.g., cell lines, animal models) show promise for other cancers (lung, prostate, etc.), but extrapolation to salivary gland cancer is speculative. The lack of rigorous human data underscores that these reports remain anecdotal, not conclusive.

Conclusion

Success stories for Fenbendazole, Ivermectin and repurposed drugs in salivary gland cancer are sparse and anecdotal. The single case mentioned above hints at use but lacks outcome details, while nearby cancers (e.g., tongue base) suggest possible relevance.

Patients considering these drugs should consult healthcare professionals, as their efficacy and safety for this cancer type remain unproven. For more robust evidence, clinical trials are needed—an area where funding and interest remain limited due to the drugs’ off-patent status.