Another animal model of parasitic disease inducing cancer is found in the laboratory of Dr Sadia Benamrouz who reported in 2014 that mice inoculated with the parasite, Crytosporidium, quite unexpectedly develop colon cancer. (11) They found histochemical evidence of upregulated WNT signaling pathways. This WNT pathway was discussed in a previous article. (11)
Anti-Parasitic Drugs are Anti-Cancer Drugs and Vice Versa
The Nobel prize in Medicine for 2015 was granted to three doctors for discovery of two anti-parasitic drugs, the anti-malarial drug Artemisinin (23), and the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin. (19-22) Both drugs have been extensively studied for their potent anticancer effects as outlined in my previous article.
Pyrvinium Pamoate (Vanquin) (25-29)
Pyrvinium is an FDA approved drug for treatment of pinworm, a common parasitic infection in children. Dr Liang Xu reports in the 2016 International Journal of Oncology, "The WNT pathway inhibitor pyrvinium pamoate inhibits the self-renewal and metastasis of breast cancer stem cells." (25) The drug has striking anti-cancer activity and is active against blast cell leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer. (25-29) Not only does pyrvinium inhibit the WNT pathway, it also inhibits mitochondrial respiration in cancer cells.
Niclosamide
Niclosamide, (tradename Niclocide), is FDA approved for the treatment of tapeworm infections (cestodes). Niclosamide targets the Wnt/Î �-catenin pathway, serving as a potent anti-cancer drug. (30-33a) Niclosanide in combination with cisplatin (chemotherapy) was found effective against ovarian cancer cells isolated from malignant ascites in 34 patients (31). Niclosamide was also effective against colorectal cancer cell lines, Osteosarcoma and Glioblastoma cell lines. (30) Niclosamide waspatented in 2012for treatment of metastatic cancer.
Pork Tapeworm is endemic in developing countries with over 15% of household workers testing positive for antibodies to the parasite. (33b-d). Even in people who avoid pork ingestion for religious/cultural reasons, nonetheless, tapeworm infection was found in orthodox Jewish communities transmitted from infected migrant workers from Latin America (33b-d) Seizure disorder and characteristic cysts on brain CAT scan are typical findings in neurocysticercosis, found in 50% of migrant workers who test positive for anti-tapeworm antibodies.(33 b -- d)
Niclosamide for treatment of Tapeworm is listed as an essential medicine by WHO, World health Organization. Recommended adult dosage is 2 grams. "The tablets should be chewed thoroughly before swallowing and washed down with a little water. Adults: 2 g as a single dose." ( WHO)
Nitazoxanide (NTZ) -- Alinia
In 2013, Dr Fan-Minogue utilized the c-Myc sensor to establish a cell assay and optimized it to a high throughput-screening (HTS) format. The authors screened about 5,000 existing bioactive compounds for potential activity as "c-Myc" inhibitors. "Among the most potent hits was nitazoxanide (NTZ), a human anti-protozoal drug." Anticancer effects of NTZ was validated in various cancer cell lines in-vitro and in-vivo mouse xenograft models as well. (34) Nitazoxanide is available as Alinia tablets. (37)
Mebenzadole -- The Anti-Parasitic Drug Vermox (49-55)
Upon screening 2,000 common drugs for anti-cancer activity against malignant melanoma, the anti-parasitic drug, mebenzadole (Vermox), was deemed the most promising agent. The authors state: "Mebendazole treatment induces apoptosis through the intrinsic and extrinsic (mitochondrial) pathways in melanoma cells but not in melanocytes" After treatment with 0.5 Î �mol/L mebendazole for 14 h, we observed overall microtubular network disarray" (49)
Recent studies show mebenzadole a promising agent for a number of cancers including medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor in children. Animal xenograft studies show improved survival in mebenzadele treated animals. Indeed, the authors suggested that Vincristine, the currently used chemotherapy drug, should be replaced by Mebenzadole which has better penetration across the blood brain barrier. (54-55)
Cancer as a Transmissible Parasite
Dr Claudio Murgio reported in 2004 on a type of transmissible cancer in dogs. They studied genetic markers in the host dog and in the invading cancer cells, showing the cancer "has evolved into a transmissible parasite", representing the oldest known somatic mammalian cell in continuous propagation. (38)
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