Cancer

Scientists in Japan recently studied some of the glyconutrients from spinach and found they inhibited destruction of DNA, cancer cell growth, and tumor growth. They used the nutrients to suppress the growth of colon adenocarcinoma in mice. After a two week period of ingesting the nutrients, a 56.1% decrease in solid tumor volume occurred without any side effects. And the nutrients reduced the ability of tumors to supply themselves with blood which they need to fuel their growth. Markers of cell proliferation were drastically reduced. (Lipids, August, 2008)

A ground-breaking Canada-wide clinical trial led by Dr. Katherine Borden, at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universit de Montral, has shown that a common anti-viral drug, ribavirin, can be beneficial in the treatment of cancer patients. Published in the journal Blood (First Edition), the study demonstrates that ribavirin suppresses the activities of the eIF4E gene in patients. This gene is dysregulated in 30 percent of cancers including breast, prostate, head and neck, colon and stomach cancer.

Know Cancer is dedicated to connecting, educating and empowering all people affected by the many forms of cancer. Through the power of knowledge and collective wisdom we will help people to prevent, endure and survive cancer. Our current focus is KnowCancer.com, an online community that provides social and professional support to patients and their loved ones. The website contains 3 main sections: Education: a comprehensive library of cancer related content Community: a cancer social network, blog, forum and an "ask the expert" section Resources: a nationwide directory of cancer related businesses and organizations

High levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mate drinks. Kamangar F, Schantz MM, Abnet CC, Fagundes RB, Dawsey SM. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 May;17(5):1262-8. PMID: 18483349 doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0025

Effects of dietary flaxseed on intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc(Min) mouse. Bommareddy A, Zhang X, Schrader D, Kaushik RS, Zeman D, Matthees DP, Dwivedi C. Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(2):276-83. PMID: 19235044 DOI: 10.1080/01635580802419764

Randomized trial of preoperative cimetidine in patients with colorectal carcinoma with quantitative assessment of tumor-associated lymphocytes. Kelly MD, King J, Cherian M, Dwerryhouse SJ, Finlay IG, Adams WJ, King DW, Lubowski DZ, Morris DL. Cancer. 1999 Apr 15;85(8):1658-63. PMID: 10223557

Inhibition of suppressor T lymphocytes (Ts) by cimetidine. Sahasrabudhe DM, McCune CS, O'Donnell RW, Henshaw EC. J Immunol. 1987 May 1;138(9):2760-3. PMID: 2952721 Cyclophosphamide (CY) is the most extensively studied inhibitor of suppressor T lymphocyte (Ts) function. However, repeated administration of CY can abrogate sensitization. Therefore, we were interested in identifying noncytotoxic inhibitors of Ts function as adjuncts in the immunotherapy of Ts-inducing murine tumors. The effect of cimetidine (a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist) and diphenhydramine (a histamine type 1 receptor antagonist) on the Ts mediating tolerance to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene was studied. We report our data regarding the specific inhibition of Ts by cimetidine.

Platelets and fibrin(ogen) increase metastatic potential by impeding natural killer cell-mediated elimination of tumor cells. Palumbo JS, Talmage KE, Massari JV, La Jeunesse CM, Flick MJ, Kombrinck KW, Jirousková M, Degen JL. Blood. 2005 Jan 1;105(1):178-85. Epub 2004 Sep 14. PMID: 15367435 DOI 10.1182/blood-2004-06-2272

Lysis of tumor cells by natural killer cells in mice is impeded by platelets. Nieswandt B, Hafner M, Echtenacher B, Männel DN. Cancer Res. 1999 Mar 15;59(6):1295-300. PMID: 10096562

Is regular exercise a friend or foe of the aging immune system? A systematic review. Haaland DA, Sabljic TF, Baribeau DA, Mukovozov IM, Hart LE. Clin J Sport Med. 2008 Nov;18(6):539-48. Review. PMID: 19001887 doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181865eec

Exercise affects platelet-impeded antitumor cytotoxicity of natural killer cell. Wang JS, Chung Y, Chow SE. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Jan;41(1):115-22. PMID: 19092699

Human natural killer cell subsets and acute exercise: a brief review. Timmons BW, Cieslak T. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2008;14:8-23. Review. PMID: 19203081

Effect of moderate exercise training on T-helper cell subpopulations in elderly people. Shimizu K, Kimura F, Akimoto T, Akama T, Tanabe K, Nishijima T, Kuno S, Kono I. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2008;14:24-37. PMID: 19203082

Age, stress, and poor nutrition can sap our immune system of its effectiveness. Influenza provides one example. During young adulthood, when the body can mount a robust immune response to this common virus, influenza is rarely fatal. Among the elderly, however, the virus is associated with significant rates of death and hospitalization (Nichol KL 2005). The impact of aging on the immune system is profound. As people age, a number of critical immune system components are reduced or slowed, including cellular response, response to vaccines, and antibody production. At the same time, susceptibilities to infection and cancer are increased. Some of this increased susceptibility to disease is linked to chronic inflammation, which is associated with many disorders of aging (Ershler WB et al 2000; Hamerman D 1999; Taaffe DR et al 2000).

Determining the best way of treating cancer remains highly controversial, even among mainstream oncologists. What may surprise the reader is the large number of documented therapies that have been overlooked by establishment medicine. The fundamental objective of this book is to encourage the expedient transfer of published scientific findings from the research bench to the clinical setting where the patient may benefit. This is the concept of translational medicine, which means translating knowledge from the laboratory side of medicine to the front lines of patient care. Physicians who practice translational medicine react uniquely when informed about a novel therapy. Their curiosity first motivates them to evaluate the new approach in order to reaffirm safety and efficacy in the context of treatment that is appropriate to the patient's condition. The dedicated translational physician uses novel therapeutics based on:

Mainstream medical treatment of cancer revolves around surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, used either alone or in combination (Isobe T et al 2005; Ostoros G et al 2005). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy cannot discriminate between cancer cells and healthy cells; thus, they damage both types of cells and cause serious and often debilitating side effects, frequently forcing patients to abandon treatment (Ettinger DS 2005; Giraud P et al 2004; Munden RF et al 2005). Therefore, it is not surprising that many cancer patients now opt to complement conventional treatments with alternative therapies that may not only temper the adverse side effects of conventional cancer therapy, but also improve its effectiveness via independent anti-cancer effects.

H. Weiler A platelet cloak for tumor cells Blood, January 1, 2005; 105(1): 5 - 6. Palumbo and colleagues show that platelets and fibrinogen protect metastatic tumor cells from elimination by NK cells, confirming a striking mechanistic link between activation of the blood coagulation system and the spread of tumor metastases

The effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on T-lymphocyte subsets of patients with solid tumors. Gogos CA, Ginopoulos P, Zoumbos NC, Apostolidou E, Kalfarentzos F. Cancer Detect Prev. 1995;19(5):415-7. PMID: 7585727

Nutrient intake and immune function of elderly subjects. Wardwell L, Chapman-Novakofski K, Herrel S, Woods J. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Dec;108(12):2005-12. PMID: 19027403 doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.09.003

Effects of perioperative cimetidine administration on peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: results of a randomized controlled clinical trial. Li Y, Yang GL, Yuan HY, Bai DJ, Wang K, Lin CR, Hu MB, Feng MH. Hepatogastroenterology. 2005 Mar-Apr;52(62):504-8. PMID: 15816467