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Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease. Kidd P. Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review. PMID: 12946237 Th1 pathways typically produce activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc), NK cells, macrophages, and monocytes, all of which can attack cancer cells and generally defend against tumors. 55 IFN-gamma and other Th1 cytokines are typically lower in advanced cancer patients, while the Th2 marker IL-4 can be higher or unchanged.56 Nodules of non-small cell lung cancer freshly removed from patients expressed a marked imbalance toward Th2, as did biopsy samples from basal cell carcinoma.57 In prostate cancer patients IL-2 was low (Th1) and IL-10 high.58 IL-10 is a confirmed Th1-suppressive cytokine, and heightened IL-10 is a common factor in cancer.55 IL-10 has a variety of suppressive effects that include inhibiting Th1 cytokine production, down-regulating APC and NK cell function, and lowering overall T-cell proliferation.57 Especially under the influence of IL-4 (Th2), tumor cells apparently up-regulate IL-10 that suppresses nearby killer cells. Tumor-derived IL-10 has been documented in lymphoma, ovarian carcinoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and renal cell and colon carcinoma.57 IL-12 is another cytokine that can be up-regulated by Th1 activity and inhibited by Th2.59 A low IL-12/IL-10 ratio was found in cervical cancer patients.55 Recent clinical studies suggest elevated IL-10 is predictive of a poor prognosis. 57 With both IL-4 and IL-10 being proven inhibitors of Th1 and promoters of Th2 activity, the recognized capability of cancerous tissue to suppress immunity is readily rationalized.

Combination immunotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase 2 trial. Barrera JL, Verastegui E, Meneses A, Zinser J, de la Garza J, Hadden JW. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000 Mar;126(3):345-51. PMID: 10722007 The natural cytokine mixture is a collection of natural human cytokines induced from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It contains IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor , and granulocyte-macrophage and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in nanogram quantities. It lacks IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-7. [...] This IRX-2 strategy uses perilymphatic local administration along with contrasuppression with low-dose cyclophosphamide and indomethacin and with zinc replacement therapy (as an immunorestorative). The data presented herein demonstrate that H&N SCC can respond very well to immunotherapy: there was a response rate of 100% in this series of 15 patients, with clinical reduction in tumor (1 complete response, 7 partial responses, and 7 minor responses) and histological evidence of tumor regression of 42%. Overall, the average combined estimated tumor reduction exceeded 70%. Also, patients with oral cancer noted marked analgesic and hemostatic effects from this therapy, with healing of oral lesions. [...] It is important to note that adjuvant chemotherapy is not used at INCAN. Many studies23 indicate that treatment with fluorouracil and cisplatin, the combination most in use, is effective for reducing tumors in the majority of patients; however, with no meaningful impact on survival, their routine use in the United States has recently been questioned.24-25 The expense, toxic effects, and lack of effectiveness of both drugs has made their use in other less affluent countries unwarranted. The current data on the use of IRX-2 in this and other protocols8-10 hint at improved survival, and a phase 3 randomized controlled study comparing this protocol with chemotherapy arm is to be initiat

Conjugated linoleic acid promotes human adipocyte insulin resistance through NFkappaB-dependent cytokine production. Chung S, Brown JM, Provo JN, Hopkins R, McIntosh MK. J Biol Chem. 2005 Nov 18;280(46):38445-56. Epub 2005 Sep 9. PMID: 16155293 doi: 10.1074/jbc.M508159200 Collectively, these data demonstrate for the first time that trans-10, cis-12 CLA promotes NFkappaB activation and subsequent induction of IL-6, which are at least in part responsible for trans-10, cis-12 CLA-mediated suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma target gene expression and insulin sensitivity in mature human adipocytes. In summary, our in vitro data demonstrate that a physiological level of trans-10, cis-12 CLA activates NFκB- and ERK1/2-dependent cytokine production, which together suppress PPARγ and Glut4 levels and lead to impaired glucose uptake. Studies are currently under way examining 1) how CLA regulates PPARγ and the expression of its target genes, 2) the specific signaling role of SV cells and adipocytes in mediating the TG-lowering actions of CLA, and 3) the CLA-induced, upstream signal that activates NFκB and ERK1/2.

K. L. Fritsche Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids Effective in Enhancing Tumoricidal Cell Activity? J. Nutr., December 1, 2005; 135(12): 2916S - 2917S.

March 7, 2005 Boston, MA - The anti-inflammatory effect of fish oils appears to be due to a powerful anti-inflammatory compound called resolvin (resolution-phase interaction product) E1, which is produced from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Dr Makoto Arita (Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA) and colleagues report in the March 7, 2005 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine [1]. Arita writes, "At nanomolar levels, resolvin E1 dramatically reduced dermal inflammation, peritonitis, dendritic cell migration, and interleukin (IL)-12 production.

Nutrition intervention using an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-containing supplement in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Effects on nutritional and inflammatory status: a phase II trial. Read JA, Beale PJ, Volker DH, Smith N, Childs A, Clarke SJ. Support Care Cancer. 2007 Mar;15(3):301-7. Epub 2006 Oct 5. PMID: 17021855 Doi: 10.1007/s00520-006-0153-3

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is an alpha-glucan rich nutritional supplement produced from the mycelia of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) of the basidiomycete family of mushrooms, and should not be confused or used as a drug or medicine.[1][2] AHCC was originally designed to lower high-blood pressure. However, researchers at Tokyo University found AHCC's influence upon the innate immune system highly beneficial and published the results in 1992, though not in the commonly indexed scientific literature. In this study, researchers found that AHCC significantly increased natural killer (NK) cell activity in cancer patients, and also enhanced the effects of killer T-cells, and cytokines (interferon, IL-12, TNF-alpha

Anti-inflammatory actions of lipoxin A4 and aspirin-triggered lipoxin are SOCS-2 dependent. Machado FS, Johndrow JE, Esper L, Dias A, Bafica A, Serhan CN, Aliberti J. Nat Med. 2006 Mar;12(3):330-4. Epub 2006 Jan 15. PMID: 16415877 doi:10.1038/nm1355\n

Stereochemical assignment, antiinflammatory properties, and receptor for the omega-3 lipid mediator resolvin E1. Arita M, Bianchini F, Aliberti J, Sher A, Chiang N, Hong S, Yang R, Petasis NA, Serhan CN. J Exp Med. 2005 Mar 7;201(5):713-22. PMID: 15753205 oi:10.1084/jem.20042031

Investigation of the immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis on Helicobacter pylori infection. Zhang L, Su P, Henriksson A, O'Rourke J, Mitchell H. Helicobacter. 2008 Jun;13(3):183-90. PMID: 18466393 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2008.00595.x

Relationship between the in vitro response of dendritic cells to Lactobacillus and prevention of tumorigenesis in the mouse. Takagi A, Ikemura H, Matsuzaki T, Sato M, Nomoto K, Morotomi M, Yokokura T. J Gastroenterol. 2008;43(9):661-9. Epub 2008 Sep 20. PMID: 18807127 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-008-2212-7

"June 21, 2006 | Michael O'Riordan Rome, Italy - One of the possible ways in which long-chain omega-3 fatty acids play a role in decreasing cardiovascular events is by entering advanced atherosclerotic plaques. According to the results of a new study, investigators were able to show that the incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) into advanced plaque was associated with a decreased expression of various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) involved in causing plaque instability, as well as with decreased plaque inflammation. These are results of the Omacor Carotid Endarterectomy Intervention (OCEAN) study, presented here this week at the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis by Dr Philip Calder (University of Southampton, UK). "By increasing the availability of omega-3 fatty acids, they appear in advanced atherosclerotic plaques, indicated in this study by the carotid artery, and this results in lower numbers of macrophages, foam cells, and T cells, as well as the lower expression of inflammatory markers," said Calder. "Histologically, this results in a plaque that appears to be less inflamed and more stable. This may contribute to reduced mortality in patients consuming omega-3 fatty acids, for example, in the GISSI Prevenzione trial.""