Ivermectin Is Not Recommended for Prostate Cancer Treatment
Ivermectin is not recommended for the treatment of prostate cancer as there is no established dosing regimen or clinical evidence supporting its use in prostate cancer management. Current guidelines from major oncology organizations do not include ivermectin as a therapeutic option for prostate cancer at any stage.
Standard Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
The ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines clearly outline the evidence-based approaches for prostate cancer management:
For Localized Disease:
- Radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, or brachytherapy for low/intermediate-risk disease 1
- External beam radiotherapy plus hormone treatment or radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for high-risk disease 1
For Advanced/Metastatic Disease:
- Continuous androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as first-line treatment 1
- ADT plus docetaxel for metastatic hormone-naïve disease in chemotherapy-eligible patients 1
- For castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC):
Why Ivermectin Is Not Recommended
While there are some preclinical studies showing potential anticancer effects of ivermectin in prostate cancer cell lines 3, 4, there are several critical limitations:
Lack of clinical evidence: No randomized controlled trials or clinical studies have established efficacy, safety, or appropriate dosing for ivermectin in prostate cancer patients 5
Preclinical stage only: The research on ivermectin for prostate cancer remains at the laboratory level, primarily in cell cultures and animal models 3, 6
Unknown effective dose: The concentrations used in laboratory studies may not be achievable or safe in humans 6
Potential risks: Self-medication with ivermectin based on preclinical data can lead to toxicity and may cause patients to delay or avoid proven therapies 5
Research Status on Ivermectin in Prostate Cancer
Recent laboratory research has identified potential mechanisms by which ivermectin might affect prostate cancer cells:
- Targeting FOXA1 and Ku70/Ku80 proteins, potentially affecting androgen receptor signaling and DNA repair 3
- Inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase 3, 4
- Causing DNA damage and triggering cell death 3
However, a critical translational gap exists between these laboratory findings and clinical application 5. The 2023 review on ivermectin in cancer treatment explicitly states that "despite promising preclinical data, the absence of conclusive large-scale human clinical evidence limits ivermectin's utility in cancer treatment" 5.
Caution Against Unapproved Use
Healthcare providers should be aware that some patients may seek ivermectin as an alternative cancer treatment, as documented in a study from Ecuador where 19% of cancer patients reported taking ivermectin-based medicines alongside conventional treatments 7. Medical specialists interviewed in this study confirmed there is no authorization to prescribe ivermectin for cancer and no scientific knowledge supporting its application in humans for this purpose 7.
Conclusion for Clinical Practice
When managing prostate cancer patients, clinicians should adhere to established guidelines from ESMO and other major oncology organizations, which recommend evidence-based approaches including surgery, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and approved chemotherapeutic agents based on disease stage and risk factors 1.
Patients inquiring about ivermectin should be counseled about the lack of clinical evidence supporting its use for prostate cancer and directed toward proven therapeutic options that have demonstrated benefits for mortality, morbidity, and quality of life.