Pharmacological Research 163 (2021) 105207
Available online 21 September 2020
1043-6618/© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Review

Ivermectin, a potential anticancer drug derived from an antiparasitic drug

Mingyang Tanga,b,1, Xiaodong Huc,1, Yi Wanga,d, Xin Yaoa,d, Wei Zhanga,b, Chenying Yua,b,
Fuying Chenga,b, Jiangyan Lia,d, Qiang Fanga,d,e,*
a Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China b Clinical Medical Department, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China c Department of Histology and Embryology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China d Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China e School of Fundamental Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China


A B S T R A C T

Ivermectin is a macrolide antiparasitic drug with a 16-membered ring that is widely used for the treatment of many parasitic diseases such as river blindness, elephantiasis and scabies. Satoshi omura and William C. Campbell won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the excellent efficacy of ivermectin against parasitic diseases. Recently, ivermectin has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of several tumor cells by regulating multiple signaling pathways. This suggests that ivermectin may be an anti-cancer drug with great potential. Here, we reviewed the related mechanisms by which ivermectin inhibited the development of different cancers and promoted programmed cell death and discussed the prospects for the clinical application of ivermectin as an anticancer drug for neoplasm therapy.