Tapas Mukhopadhyay
National Centre for Human Genome Studies and Research,
Chandigarh-160014
India
Short Communication
Methyl N-(6-Phenylsulfanyl-1h-Benzimidazol-2-Yl) Carbamate: A Non-Toxic Substitute of Colchicine for Quality Metaphase Chromosome Preparation from Normal and Tumor Cells for Cytogenetic Analysis
Author(s): Ambica Baru, Nilambra Dogra and Tapas MukhopadhyayAmbica Baru, Nilambra Dogra and Tapas Mukhopadhyay
Background: Methyl N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate [Fenbendazole, FZ] is an anthelmintic drug which acts by selectively binding to β tubulin of nematodes, inhibiting the tubulin polymerization and blocking microtubule dependent glucose uptake. The anti-proliferative effect of Fenbendazole is partly due to its ability to affect microtubule dynamics and arrest cells at a pro-metaphase state with an intact mitotic spindle.
Findings: Here, we show that Fenbendazole - a benzimidazole anthelmintic drug, can be used as an alternative to colchicine for making high quality chromosome preparations for karyotyping and further cytogenetic analysis. This drug could efficiently block the proliferation of human tumor cell lines as well as peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture by arresting them at G2M phase. FZ treatment at 1uM conc.. View More»
