Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM)is the most malignant and lethal primary brain tumor in adults accounting for about 50%of all gliomas.The only treatment available for GBM is the drug temozolomide,which unfortunately has frequent drug resistance issue.By analyzing the hub genes of GBM via weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)of the cancer genome atlas(TCGA)dataset,and using the connectivity map(CMAP)platform for drug repurposing,we found that multiple azole compounds had potential anti-GBM activity.When their anti-GBM activity was examined,however,only three benzimidazole compounds,i.e.flubendazole,mebendazole and fenbendazole,potently and dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of U87 and U251 cells with IC50 values below 0.26 μM.Benzimidazoles(0.125-0.5 μM)dose-dependently suppressed DNA synthesis,cell migration and invasion,and regulated the expression of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)markers in U87 and U251 cells.Benzimidazoles treatment also dose-dependently induced the GBM cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase via the P53/P21/cyclin B1 pathway.Furthermore,the drugs triggered pyroptosis of GBM cells through the NF-KB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway,and might also concurrently induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.In a nude mouse U87 cell xenograft model,administration of flubendazole(12.5,25,and 50 mg.kg-1·d-1,i.p,for 3 weeks)dose-dependently suppressed the tumor growth without obvious adverse effects.Taken together,our results demonstrated that benzimidazoles might be promising candidates for the treatment of GBM.