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.