In vitro anti-tubulin effects of mebendazole and fenbendazole on J3T canine glioma cells

Abstract

Benzimidazole anthelmintics have reported anti-neoplastic effects both in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro chemosensitivity of canine glioma J3T cells to mebendazole and fenbendazole.

The mean IC50 (+/- SD) obtained from performing the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay after treating J3T cells for 72 hours with mebendazole and fenbendazole were 0.030 +/- 0.003 and 0.550 +/- 0.015 μM respectively. Tubulin polymerization assay showed a trend towards increased solubilized !-tubulin fractions with treatment, although no statistical significance was determined. Immunofluorescence studies showed disruption of tubulin after treatment.

Mebendazole and fenbendazole are cytotoxic in canine glioma J3T cells in vitro and may be good candidates for treatment of canine gliomas. Further in vivo studies evaluating pharmacokinetics of mebendazole and fenbendazole in the cerebrospinal fluid and subsequent antitumoral efficacy are indicated.