Niclosamide for Cancer and other Diseases - 2025 Review Paper from China
Niclosamide was approved by FDA in 1982 for treating tapeworm infections, and was designated an essential drug by WHO. Niclosamide for Cancer Mechanisms: 1. Mitochondrial uncoupling - this is its major anti-cancer mechanism Niclosamide acts like a mild “leak” in the mitochondrial membrane, letting protons slip across without making ATP. This increases oxygen use, lowers ATP levels, raises AMP/ATP ratio & activates AMPK (energy sensor) to inhibit mTOR (slows down cancer cell growth). Cancer cells, which often rely on inefficient energy pathways (Warburg effect), are especially vulnerable. This can lead to inhibition of ATP synthesis, exhausting cellular energy reserves, metabolic stress, and cell death. 2. Signal pathway modulation - It inhibits several “pro-cancer” pathways, including: - Wnt/β-catenin (important in cancer proliferation, especially colorectal). - mTOR (controls cell proliferation, growth and metabolism). - Notch pathway (controls proliferation, growth, ...