Ivermectin in Cancer: Mechanistic Rationale, Safety Profile, and Comparison With Chemotherapy

Introduction

Ivermectin is a long-established antiparasitic drug that has been used globally for decades. Beyond its approved role in treating parasitic infections, ivermectin has gained increasing attention in the fields of longevity medicine, repurposed-drug oncology, and integrative cancer research.

This interest is not based on a single mechanism or isolated claim, but on a convergence of factors:

a long human safety record, multi-pathway biological activity relevant to cancer biology, immune-modulating effects, and experimental evidence suggesting selective pressure on malignant cells. As a result, ivermectin is now widely discussed and used off-label both for cancer treatment and cancer prevention, particularly in strategies focused on early intervention, recurrence reduction, and immune surveillance.

This article examines how ivermectin is used off-label, why it is proposed for both treatment and prevention, the mechanisms underlying these uses, how it differs from traditional chemotherapy, and the safety considerations relevant to long-term or preventive contexts.