Ivermectin / TCF 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)
TCF, T-cell factor (Tcf) family: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
T-cell factor (Tcf) is a family of transcription factors that play a crucial role in the Wnt signaling pathway, which is important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Tcf proteins, particularly Tcf1, Tcf3, Tcf4, and Tcf7L2, interact with β-catenin, a key mediator of Wnt signaling, to regulate the expression of target genes involved in various cellular processes.
Tcf factors are involved in maintaining the properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are thought to drive tumor initiation, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. The Wnt/Tcf signaling pathway is often activated in CSCs, promoting their self-renewal and survival.
Tcf4: Often overexpressed due to mutations in the APC gene, leading to increased Wnt signaling and tumorigenesis
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1167- IVM,    The river blindness drug Ivermectin and related macrocyclic lactones inhibit WNT-TCF pathway responses in human cancer
- vitro+vivo, NA, NA
Wnt↓, TCF↓, TumCP↓, Apoptosis↑, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, cycD1/CCND1↓,

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:


Cell Death ⓘ

Apoptosis↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

TCF↓, 1,   Wnt↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

TumCP↓, 1,   β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 6

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: TCF, T-cell factor (Tcf) family
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#:414  State#:%  Dir#:%
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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