AIM:To investigate the effect of fenbendazole (FBZ) on the proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell line K562.METHODS:The CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of FBZ on viability of the K562 cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).The cell growth was measured by the method of Trypan blue exclusion.The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.The cell cycle-related proteins were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The growth of K562 was significantly inhibited by FBZ.However, it elicited little cytotoxic effect on PBMC.Furthermore, FBZ induced G2/M phase arrest and mitotic catastrophe in the K562 cells based on the changes of nuclear morphology, DNA content, mitotic marker analysis and the number of polykaryocytes.CONCLUSION:Fenbendazole significantly inhibits the proliferation of K562 cells and induces cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase by the regulation of cell cycle-related proteins.