Ivermectin for Cancer Treatment
Ivermectin should NOT be used for cancer treatment—it has no proven therapeutic utility for cancer and is FDA-approved only for specific parasitic infections. 1
Current Evidence Status
Regulatory Position and Clinical Guidelines
The FDA has not approved ivermectin for any cancer indication, and current guidelines explicitly state it has no proven therapeutic utility for cancer treatment. 1
No large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans have confirmed any therapeutic benefit of ivermectin for cancer. 2
Higher doses of ivermectin that would potentially be needed for anticancer effects may cause significant adverse effects, including fatal outcomes. 3, 4
The Preclinical-Clinical Evidence Gap
While preclinical laboratory studies show promising mechanisms, this does not translate to clinical benefit:
In vitro studies demonstrate ivermectin can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and modulate signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Akt/mTOR) across various cancer types. 2, 5
Animal studies and cell culture experiments show effects on urothelial carcinoma cells through caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. 6
However, the concentrations required for anticancer effects in laboratory settings are considerably higher than those safely achieved in human plasma and tissue. 3
Clinical Reality and Risks
The absence of human clinical evidence creates critical safety concerns:
Observational studies document risks of self-medication driven by social media misinformation, leading to toxicity in oncology patients. 2
A fatal case of transdermal ivermectin overdose resulted in diffuse cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension, with death despite aggressive supportive care including hemoperfusion. 4
Patients using ivermectin for cancer in rural Ecuador (19% of surveyed cancer patients) reported subjective improvements, but specialists confirmed no authorization exists to prescribe these treatments and no scientific knowledge supports application in humans for cancer. 7
Critical Clinical Pitfalls
The primary danger is patients abandoning proven cancer therapies in favor of ivermectin:
Patients may be attracted to ivermectin due to its low cost and accessibility, particularly in resource-limited settings. 1
The ethical challenge of misinformation may lead patients to forgo evidence-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy. 2
Healthcare providers must actively counter misinformation and guide patients toward proven interventions while the translational gap between laboratory and clinical evidence remains unbridged. 2
What Ivermectin IS Approved For
Ivermectin's legitimate medical uses are limited to parasitic infections:
Cutaneous larva migrans: 200 mcg/kg single dose. 8
Onchocerciasis: requires specialist consultation with doxycycline 200 mg daily for 6 weeks plus ivermectin 200 mcg/kg monthly for 3 months (must exclude loiasis first to prevent fatal encephalopathy). 8
Off-label uses include lymphatic filariasis, scabies, pediculosis, and crusted scabies. 8