Ivermectin as an inhibitor of cancer stem‑like cells.

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate that ivermectin preferentially inhibited cancer stem‑like cells (CSC) in breast cancer cells and downregulated the expression of 'stemness' genes. Computational searching of DrugBank, a database of approved drugs, was performed using the principles of two‑dimensional similarity searching; the chemical structure of salinomycin was used as a query. Growth inhibition of the breast cancer cell lin e MDA‑MB‑231 by ivermectin was investigated in the total cell population, in cell spheroids and in sorted cells that expressed cluster of differentiation (CD)44+/CD24‑.