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Ivermectin and Cancer Treatment: Research and Insights From an Integrative Oncologist

Research on Ivermectin

Ivermectin and Cancer Treatment

 

A lot of people ask me about ivermectin, and I think it’s important that we take a closer look here. So let’s start with a brief history of ivermectin. It was discovered in Japan in the late 1970s, and has subsequently had a significant impact throughout the world. Ivermectin was originally used as a veterinary drug starting in the early 1980s due to its ability to kill a wide range of parasites. By the late 1980s, it was approved for human use and began being used to treat parasites in humans as well.

It has subsequently been used to treat multiple types of parasitic infestations, including scabies, head lice, river blindness, strongyloidiasis, and others. It’s now on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines and is currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as an antiparasitic agent in humans to treat diseases caused by roundworms and a variety of external parasites.

Billions of doses of ivermectin have been given worldwide for a range of parasites, and it’s proven to be so effective that the developers of ivermectin were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015. As we all know, ivermectin enjoyed a significant boost in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ivermectin is generating a lot of interest due to fascinating research into its multiple anti-cancer effects. As a pharmaceutical, ivermectin has been heavily researched not only for its mechanism of action in the body, but also to look for any potential side effects. The only absolute contraindication to the use of ivermectin is a documented history of hypersensitivity or allergy to the active ingredient or any other component found in the specific formulation.

Side effects from ivermectin are uncommon, but the literature does tell us that people have developed fever, itching, and skin rashes from ivermectin when ingested orally. As with any substance, toxicity can occur if too much is taken. Poison control recommends that individuals take no more than 2 mg per kg of body weight.

This is a significantly higher dose than is commonly used in the FDA-approved dose to treat parasites, which is typically about 0.15 to 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. So someone who weighs approximately 150 pounds and who thus weighs approximately 70 kilograms would take roughly 10 to 15 milligrams of ivermectin to treat parasites per the current dosing guidelines, while the dose poison control it’s concerned about is more on the order of 140 milligrams or higher.

It’s important to note that ivermectin has not been studied much with regard to long-term use, as the protocols used to treat parasites typically consist of one dose up to one week of use. And I mention this because most people taking it off-label, such as for cancer purposes, are taking it long-term.

Now let’s talk about ivermectin’s fascinating anti-cancer mechanisms. In a research paper published in 2021 by Tang and colleagues “Ivermectin – a potential anti-cancer drug derived from an anti-parasitic drug” – ivermectin was found to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. It was also noted to promote the death of cancer cells by several mechanisms including apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis.

Ivermectin has been shown to inhibit cancer stem cells as well, and even help reverse drug resistance in cancer cells. Now this research is very exciting, but it’s important to note that we’re still very early on in the research into ivermectin and these anti-cancer mechanisms. Further research is needed to better understand how ivermectin works in humans, which will then help us to better identify proper dosing as well as how to best incorporate it with other cancer treatments.

I know that many oncologists will take a wait-and-see approach with ivermectin in order to allow more research to be done before recommending it to patients. While I certainly understand this conservative approach, I do disagree with it. Cancer patients today need every potential advantage they can get. And what if ivermectin represents such an advantage? Shouldn’t we be using it, provided that we explain to patients that ivermectin is something we do not fully understand yet, that ivermectin is being used in an off-label fashion against cancer, and that there could be side effects we don’t anticipate or know about? I believe we should.

This is life and death we’re dealing with. Cancer patients today can’t afford to wait years, if not decades, for the research into ivermectin to be carried out.

They need it now.

In my practice, I do incorporate ivermectin into my treatment protocols. I don’t use anything close to what would be considered a toxic dose.

I mention this because there are certainly case reports in the literature of patients using 40, 80, even in excess of 100 milligrams of ivermectin per day. I can say that in my experience with my patients, I have used high doses of ivermectin and it seems to be quite safe. I say this as someone who checks labs weekly on my patients to evaluate various aspects of their health, including immune system function, iron levels, platelet levels, kidney function, and liver function.

I’ve not seen any obvious issues from ivermectin when used in this fashion and monitored closely. I cannot stress this enough. Patients should not be taking ivermectin on their own without being under the care of a physician who’s comfortable prescribing it and monitoring it closely. In addition, ivermectin should not be a standalone cancer treatment, but should instead be combined with other more evidence-based cancer treatments.

I always utilize it in this fashion and have found it to be very compatible with other treatments I’m using, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and a variety of natural and alternative treatments as well. Please understand that I’m not recommending ivermectin for everyone with cancer. I mention it here only because many people have heard of it, are asking about it, and are interested in using it as part of their cancer treatment protocol. I think it’s important that those of us in healthcare recognize this and discuss it openly, rather than ignoring it or dismissing it simply because we don’t understand it.

As someone who’s always looking for novel cancer treatments, who isn’t afraid to think outside of the box, and who has researched ivermectin’s anti-cancer effects, I’ve decided that it’s worth using in my practice. Again, with the understanding that we are still learning about it, it might be a game changer. It might do nothing, or it might even be dangerous. At this point, I feel that ivermectin is generally a safe medication which plays well with other treatments, and potentially has legitimate anti-cancer effects, which will help patients achieve better outcomes.

After all, isn’t that what we’re going for? If ivermectin is something you’re interested in using off-label to treat your cancer, I encourage you to discuss it with your doctor. Please do not self-medicate, and that goes for the human version as well as the veterinary version.

 

 

      • Recombinant Methioninase (rMETase) Synergistically Sensitizes Ivermectin-resistant MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells 9.9 Fold to Low-dose Ivermectin.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin Combined With Recombinant Methioninase (rMETase) Synergistically Eradicates MiaPaCa-2 Pancreatic Cancer Cells.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Pharmacoproteomics reveals energy metabolism pathways as therapeutic targets of ivermectin in ovarian cancer toward 3P medical approaches.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin Enhances Paclitaxel Efficacy by Overcoming Resistance Through Modulation of ABCB1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin inhibits the growth of ESCC by activating the ATF4-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy pathway.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Spatial proteomics of Onchocerca volvulus with pleomorphic neoplasms shows local and systemic dysregulation of protein expression.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Avermectin B1 mediates antitumor activity and induces autophagy in osteosarcoma through the AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin Synergizes with Modulated Electro-hyperthermia and Improves Its Anticancer Effects in a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mouse Model.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Silencing of tropomodulin 1 inhibits acute myeloid leukemia cell proliferation and tumor growth by elevating karyopherin alpha 2-mediated autophagy.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Overcoming flumatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia: Insights into cellular mechanisms and ivermectin’s therapeutic potential.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Importin subunit beta-1 mediates ERK5 nuclear translocation, and its inhibition synergizes with ERK5 kinase inhibitors in reducing cancer cell proliferation.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Computational Modeling to Identify Drugs Targeting Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Characterized by Heightened Glycolysis.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Drug repurposing-based nanoplatform via modulating autophagy to enhance chemo-phototherapy against colorectal cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Accurate Evaluation of Lymph Node Metastasis and Correlation with Fibroblast Activation Protein Expression.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Structural and molecular characterization of lopinavir and ivermectin as breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) inhibitors.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Targeting Heat Shock Protein 27 and Fatty Acid Oxidation Augments Cisplatin Treatment in Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Eprinomectin: a derivative of ivermectin suppresses growth and metastatic phenotypes of prostate cancer cells by targeting the β-catenin signaling pathway.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “The Antineoplastic Effect of Carboplatin Is Potentiated by Combination with Pitavastatin or Metformin in a Chemoresistant High-Grade Serous Carcinoma Cell Line.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin Affects Neutrophil-Induced Inflammation through Inhibition of Hydroxylysine but Stimulation of Cathepsin G and Phenylalanine Secretion.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin and gemcitabine combination treatment induces apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells via mitochondrial dysfunction.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Persistent elevation of lysophosphatidylcholine promotes radiation brain necrosis with microglial recruitment by P2RX4 activation.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin-induced cell death of cervical cancer cells in vitro a consequence of precipitate formation in culture media.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin accelerates autophagic death of glioma cells by inhibiting glycolysis through blocking GLUT4 mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway activation.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Revealed Ivermectin as Potential Drug against Schistosoma-Associated Bladder Cancer Targeting Protein Signaling: Computational Drug Repositioning Approach.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Androgen receptor (AR) antagonism triggers acute succinate-mediated adaptive responses to reactivate AR signaling.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin converts cold tumors hot and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade for treatment of breast cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “A Gene Expression Biomarker Identifies Chemical Modulators of Estrogen Receptor α in an MCF-7 Microarray Compendium.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Development of a miRNA-controlled dual-sensing system and its application for targeting miR-21 signaling in tumorigenesis.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “SILAC quantitative proteomics analysis of ivermectin-related proteomic profiling and molecular network alterations in human ovarian cancer cells.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Targeting tumor hypoxia and mitochondrial metabolism with anti-parasitic drugs to improve radiation response in high-grade gliomas.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Quantitative proteomics reveals a broad-spectrum antiviral property of ivermectin, benefiting for COVID-19 treatment.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Antitumor effects of ivermectin at clinically feasible concentrations support its clinical development as a repositioned cancer drug.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Eprinomectin, a novel semi-synthetic macrocylic lactone is cytotoxic to PC3 metastatic prostate cancer cells via inducing apoptosis.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Vincristine and ivermectin combination chemotherapy in dogs with natural transmissible venereal tumor of different cyto-morphological patterns: A prospective outcome evaluation.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin suppresses tumour growth and metastasis through degradation of PAK1 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Identification of Functional Transcriptional Binding Sites within Chicken Abcg2 Gene Promoter and Screening Its Regulators.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin Augments the In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of Cisplatin in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by Suppressing Akt/mTOR Signaling.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Anti-parasitic Drug Ivermectin Exhibits Potent Anticancer Activity Against Gemcitabine-resistant Cholangiocarcinoma In Vitro.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Macrocyclic lactones inhibit nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells proliferation through PAK1 inhibition and reduce in vivo tumor growth.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Synchronous MALT lymphoma of the colon and stomach and regression after eradication of Strongyloides stercoralis and Helicobacter pylori.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Antibiotic ivermectin selectively induces apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Antitumor effects of the antiparasitic agent ivermectin via inhibition of Yes-associated protein 1 expression in gastric cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Antibiotic ivermectin preferentially targets renal cancer through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Demodex-Positive Acneiform Eruption Responsive to Ivermectin in a Patient Taking an Epidermal Growth Factor Inhibitor.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Apoptosis of leukemia K562 and Molt-4 cells induced by emamectin benzoate involving mitochondrial membrane potential loss and intracellular Ca2+ modulation.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Long-Lasting WNT-TCF Response Blocking and Epigenetic Modifying Activities of Withanolide F in Human Cancer Cells.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Anthelmintic drug ivermectin inhibits angiogenesis, growth and survival of glioblastoma through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Modulation of P2X4/P2X7/Pannexin-1 sensitivity to extracellular ATP via Ivermectin induces a non-apoptotic and inflammatory form of cancer cell death.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Autophagosome Proteins LC3A, LC3B and LC3C Have Distinct Subcellular Distribution Kinetics and Expression in Cancer Cell Lines.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Selective Inhibition of SIN3 Corepressor with Avermectins as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Characterization of multidrug transporter-mediated efflux of avermectins in human and mouse neuroblastoma cell lines.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “The river blindness drug Ivermectin and related macrocyclic lactones inhibit WNT-TCF pathway responses in human cancer.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection presenting as subacute small bowel obstruction following immunosuppressive chemotherapy for multiple myeloma.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Nuclear import and export inhibitors alter capsid protein distribution in mammalian cells and reduce Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus replication.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Hyperinfection by Strongyloides stercoralis probably associated with Rituximab in a patient with mantle cell lymphoma and hyper eosinophilia.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Transmembrane potential of GlyCl-expressing instructor cells induces a neoplastic-like conversion of melanocytes via a serotonergic pathway.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Immunohistological studies on neoplasms of female and male Onchocerca volvulus: filarial origin and absence of Wolbachia from tumor cells.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “The direct PAK1 inhibitor, TAT-PAK18, blocks preferentially the growth of human ovarian cancer cell lines in which PAK1 is abnormally activated by autophosphorylation at Thr 423.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Ivermectin inactivates the kinase PAK1 and blocks the PAK1-dependent growth of human ovarian cancer and NF2 tumor cell lines.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Secondary Strongyloides stercoralis prophylaxis in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection: report of two cases.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Subcutaneous ivermectin as a safe salvage therapy in Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome: a case report.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Evidence for macrofilaricidal activity of ivermectin against female Onchocerca volvulus: further analysis of a clinical trial in the Republic of Cameroon indicating two distinct killing mechanisms.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

      • “Increased toxicity of P-glycoprotein-substrate chemotherapeutic agents in a dog with the MDR1 deletion mutation associated with ivermectin sensitivity.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

    Integrative oncologist, Jonathan Stegall, MD, provides a long-awaited and much-needed remedy for our cancer problem. Dr. Stegall has a successful integrative oncology practice in Atlanta, GA, and has seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t when it comes to cancer treatment.

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