Mebendazole inhibits growth of human adrenocortical carcinoma cell lines implanted in nude mice.

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal gland which requires new therapeutic approaches as its early diagnosis is difficult and prognosis poor despite therapies used. Recently, mebendazole has been proved to be effective against different cancers. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether mebendazole may result therapeutically useful in the treatment of human adrenocortical carcinoma. We analyzed the effect of mebendazole on human adrenocortical carcinoma cells in vitro and after implantation in nude mice. In order to clarify mechanisms of mebendazole action, metastases formation, apoptosis and angiogenesis were also investigated. Mebendazole significantly inhibited cancer cells growth, both in vitro and in vivo, the effects being due to the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, mebendazole inhibited invasion and migration of cancer cells in vitro, and metastases formation in vivo. Overall, these data suggest that treatment with mebendazole, also in combination with standard therapies, could provide a new protocol for the inhibition of adrenocortical carcinoma growth.

• Authors: Daniele Martarelli, Pierluigi Pompei, Caterina Baldi, Giovanni Mazzoni
• Journal: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol) Vol. 61 Issue 5 Pg. 809-17 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 0344-5704 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17581752 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Mebendazole

Topics

• Adrenocortical Carcinoma (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Male
• Mebendazole (pharmacology)
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Metastasis (prevention & control)
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (drug therapy)