Niclosamide, long used to treat tapeworm infections, is now being studied for its potential to fight cancer. Researchers have found that it can interfere with several pathways that cancer cells use to grow and survive.
Targeting Cancer Growth Pathways
One of the key ways niclosamide works is by blocking the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This pathway is crucial for cancer cell growth and spread. A study published in PLOS ONE showed that niclosamide suppresses this pathway by promoting the degradation of a protein called LRP6, leading to reduced cancer cell proliferation.
Niclosamide also inhibits the STAT3 and NF-κB pathways, both of which are involved in inflammation and cancer cell survival. Research from Cancer Letters indicates that niclosamide can block these pathways, potentially making cancer cells more susceptible to treatment.
Disrupting Cancer Cell Energy Production
Another way niclosamide may combat cancer is by acting as a mitochondrial uncoupler. This means it disrupts the energy production in cancer cells, making it harder for them to survive. A study in Nature Communications found that niclosamide-induced mitochondrial uncoupling can lead to cancer cell death, especially in cells with certain mutations.
Comparing Niclosamide to Other Repurposed Drugs
Niclosamide’s multi-targeted approach sets it apart from other repurposed drugs like ivermectin and fenbendazole. While ivermectin primarily affects protein transport within cells and fenbendazole disrupts the structural components of cancer cells, niclosamide attacks multiple survival pathways simultaneously, including Wnt/β-catenin, STAT3, and NF-κB.
Niclosamide shows promise as a potential cancer treatment by targeting multiple pathways that cancer cells rely on. While more research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand its effectiveness and safety in cancer therapy, the existing studies provide a strong foundation for its potential use in oncology.
Endnotes
- Lu, W. et al. (2011). Niclosamide suppresses cancer cell growth by inducing Wnt co-receptor LRP6 degradation and inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. PLOS ONE, 6(12), e29290. Link
- Li, Y. et al. (2014). Multi-targeted therapy of cancer by niclosamide. Cancer Letters, 349(1), 8-14. Link
- Wang, Y. et al. (2018). Niclosamide induces mitochondrial uncoupling and inhibits cancer cell growth. Nature Communications, 9, 4361. Link
