Mebendazole as a treatment for high-grade gliomas
High-dose oral mebendazole plus standard monthly temozolomide is safe in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas in the adjuvant setting.
This paper details a phase 1 clinical trial investigating the repurposing of mebendazole, a common antiparasitic medication, as a treatment for high-grade gliomas. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety profile of the drug when combined with standard temozolomide chemotherapy in twenty-four patients. The study concludes that high doses of mebendazole are safe and well-tolerated, with the primary side effect being reversible liver enzyme elevation rather than severe toxicity. While the survival data is preliminary, the results suggest that mebendazole's ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and target multiple kinases warrants further investigation in randomized phase 2 trials to evaluate its true efficacy against brain cancer.