Ivermectin / GLUT4 Cancer Research Results

IVM, Ivermectin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Ivermectin , Medicationthat treats some parasitic diseases

Ivermectin (IVM; brands include Stromectol; Rx antiparasitic) — a macrocyclic lactone anthelmintic used for certain parasitic infections. Oncology relevance is primarily repurposing research (preclinical + early trials), not an approved anticancer indication.

Primary mechanisms (conceptual rank):
1) Parasite MoA: glutamate-gated Cl⁻ channel modulation → paralysis/death (invertebrate-selective)
2) Repurposing (cancer): multi-pathway inhibition (Wnt/β-catenin ↓; STAT3 ↓; PI3K/AKT/mTOR ↓; PAK1-linked signaling ↓; model-dependent)
3) Tumor cell stress programs (autophagy/apoptosis ↑; context-dependent)
4) Tumor microenvironment/immune modulation (context-dependent; exploratory)

Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral; half-life ~18 h; primarily CYP3A4 metabolism; excretion mainly fecal. High-fat meal can increase bioavailability (~2.5× reported in product monograph). CNS exposure is normally limited by P-glycoprotein at the BBB (risk increases if P-gp function is impaired or inhibited).

In-vitro vs oral exposure: Many reported anticancer effects use concentrations that may exceed typical systemic exposure from standard antiparasitic dosing (high concentration only for direct tumor cytotoxicity in many models).

Clinical evidence status: Approved antiparasitic; oncology evidence = preclinical + small/early human studies (no oncology RCT approval/indication).

Ivermectin — Cancer vs Normal Cell Pathway Map

RankPathway / AxisCancer CellsNormal CellsTSFPrimary EffectNotes / Interpretation
1Wnt/β-catenin ↓ (model-dependent)↔R/G Reduced proliferation / stemness programs Frequently cited repurposing axis; relevance highest in Wnt-dependent contexts.
2STAT3 ↓ (model-dependent)↔R/G Anti-survival transcription blockade Often presented as a central anti-tumor signaling node in repurposing literature.
3PI3K/AKT/mTOR ↓ (model-dependent)↔R/G Reduced anabolic survival signaling Commonly co-reported with Wnt/STAT3 effects; may contribute to cytostatic phenotypes.
4PAK1-linked signaling ↓ (model-dependent)↔R/G Reduced migration / growth signaling Repurposing reviews highlight PAK1 as a putative node; tumor-type dependence is high.
5Autophagy ↑ or ↔ (context-dependent)↔ / ↑ (stress-dependent)R/G Stress adaptation vs growth suppression Often cytostatic; can support survival or contribute to death depending on context.
6 Glycolysis / Warburg (glucose uptake, lactate output) ↓ (model-dependent; secondary to energy stress; high concentration only) ↔ / ↓ (high concentration only) R/G Reduced glycolytic flux / lactate production Often downstream of mitochondrial ATP stress and PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibition; not a uniformly demonstrated primary ivermectin target and typically requires higher experimental exposure.
7Apoptosis (intrinsic; caspases) ↑ (model-dependent; high concentration only)↔ / ↑ (high exposure)R/G Programmed cell death Typically downstream of pathway inhibition/stress; exposure gap common.
8ROS ↑ or ↔ (context-dependent)↔P/R Secondary stress contributor Not a canonical primary target; can emerge downstream of stress signaling.
9NRF2 (protective vs resistance role) ↔ / ↑ (adaptive; context-dependent)↔ / ↑ (adaptive)R/G Stress-response adjustment Secondary; could blunt efficacy if antioxidant adaptation dominates.
10HIF-1α ↔ / ↓ (model-dependent)↔G Not a consistent primary axis Reported variably; treat as secondary unless tumor model is hypoxia-driven.
11Ferroptosis ↔ (insufficiently established)↔R/G Not canonical Not a standard ivermectin-first claim; include only with specific supporting studies.
12Ca²⁺ signaling ↔↔P/R No primary role Include only if a model explicitly measures Ca²⁺/ER-stress endpoints.
13Clinical Translation Constraint ↓ (constraint)↓ (constraint)— Exposure + evidence + BBB safety context Most tumor-directed effects are preclinical and often high-concentration. PK/food effects (high-fat meal ↑ exposure), CYP3A4 metabolism, and P-gp BBB protection (neurotoxicity risk if impaired/inhibited) are key constraints; oncology trials remain early.

TSF legend:
P: 0–30 min (primary/rapid effects)
R: 30 min–3 hr (acute signaling/stress response)
G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory/phenotype outcomes)
GLUT4, Glucose Transporter 4: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
GLUT4 (Glucose Transporter 4) is a protein that plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism by facilitating the transport of glucose across cell membranes. GLUT4 is a member of the facilitated glucose transporter family and is primarily expressed in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.
GLUT4 has been shown to be overexpressed in many types of tumors, and its expression has been linked to cancer cell growth, survival, and metastasis.
GLUT4 is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism in cancer cells, and its overexpression has been shown to promote glucose uptake and energy production in cancer cells.
GLUT4 promotes glucose uptake and energy production in cancer cells.
GLUT4 expression is linked to poor prognosis in various types of cancer.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1070- IVM,    Ivermectin accelerates autophagic death of glioma cells by inhibiting glycolysis through blocking GLUT4 mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway activation
- vitro+vivo, GBM, NA
TumCG↓, LC3II↑, p62↓, ATP↓, Pyruv↓, GlucoseCon↑, HK2↓, PFK1↓, GLUT4↓, Glycolysis↓, JAK2↓, p‑STAT3↓, p‑STAT5↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

ATP↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

GlucoseCon↑, 1,   Glycolysis↓, 1,   HK2↓, 1,   PFK1↓, 1,   Pyruv↓, 1,  

Autophagy & Lysosomes ⓘ

LC3II↑, 1,   p62↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

p‑STAT3↓, 1,   p‑STAT5↓, 1,   TumCG↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

GLUT4↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

JAK2↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 13

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GLUT4, Glucose Transporter 4
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:10  Target#:774  State#:%  Dir#:1
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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