Arugula, as a biochemistry major I'm just as demanding of real scientific proof as you. However, when it comes to "conventional" medicine today (which, by the way, has only been conventional since the early 1900's. Prior to the power play by the then-fledgling American Medical Assoc, allopathic (i.e. drug-based) medicine was actually considered alternative) --- you have to be willing to peer behind the curtain to see who's pulling the strings.

The reason Dr. Cousens & Dr. Clements can't say they cure cancer is because the AMA says that ONLY a drug can cure disease. So if you purport to do it without drugs you'll swiftly be denounced as a quack.

Do some reading on the history of medicine, and then you'll be able to peruse the medical studies (some good; some atrociously stupid) with open eyes.

Today's allopathic, drug-based medicine, the prestige of the AMA and doctors, and profits of the pharmaceutical industries all have to be protected. Strictly business.

I have a keen interest in proper clinical studies and hopefully in the next several years we can see some real proof and real cures. Arugula, do you have a PhD by any chance?

Annie - 2 questions:

1) Are you a nutritionist or holistic healer -- your title?

2) Have you tried the liquid zeolite on your clients??? And what happened??? I am VERY VERY VERY curious to hear reports. Based on my understanding of medicine (I believe there is a unity to all diseases) - and my understanding of zeolite (yes also wondering about powdered patent vs. liquid product - though maybe doesn't make a difference) -- I'm very excited about the possible healing potential of the combination of raw foods & zeolite. I'm going to go check out your website, Annie.

Great thread btw.

Defining "Cure" -- for Arugula (or anyone else who's interested)

I was reading Carol Alt's interview and came across this -

"...He goes, "My girlfriend is 22 years old and they wanted to do a radical hysterectomy on her. She was full of cancer. I took her to this doctor. Everybody was saying [we were] crazy. We went against every doctor, but I'm telling you, he will make you look at food like you've never looked at food before. He will change your life! You will not be able to eat with friends and watch what they put in their mouth, because you will know they are poisoning themselves. In six months, he cured my girlfriend of cancer. She just got a negative biopsy."

PR.com: This is an alternative doctor he took her to?

Carol Alt: This was an M.D. in Los Angeles. I write about it in the book. His name is Dr. Timothy Brantley. Dr. Brantley doesn't say he cured her. It's not a word he's allowed to use. Just so you understand the technical problems with using that language…..."

-----------------

See what I mean? About how only a drug can cure disease?

Anyway the problem is one of ignorance & allowing businesspeople, who are notoriously bad at science, to define medicine for us. As such, we now have a situation where nobody can say their diet or supplement cures anything - even if it obviously does.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/26/2006 10:11PM by sunshine79.

ARUGULA:

NO ONE ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING ME, HAVE CLAIMED TO CURE CANCERS! We have only sited examples. You need, in my personal opinion, a very serious attitude adjustment NOW.

Those of us who are trying to help would appreciate support, UNTRUTHS.

Thank you for your clarity, kind consideration and RATIONALITY.

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

Arugula:

REALLY....THEN QUOTE ME ALL THE STUDIES ABOUT WHICH YOU WRITE, FROM WHOLE FOODS, NIH, ETC. You appear to be very much in the know about these studies that are so definitive. So why did you not simply quote them rather than ask me to quote them?

Do I note some motive here that may not be for the well-being of all?

PLEASE.

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

More please Arugula. You apparently have access to all the studies THAT ARE SO VERY DEFINITIVE. We await more DEFINITIVE STUDIES from you.

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

It's a lot easier to get cranky and throw stones than to educate yourself with some very difficult and dense scientific reading. You should be ashamed of yourself.

The thing about these therapies is that yes, they do kill. But they tend to kill cancer patients later than those who opt for no treatment rather than sooner, compared to those who opt for no treatment. That is why people still use them. They aren't appropriate for all forms and all stages of cancer, though.

Here are some definitive refs regarding breast cancer for you:

Systemic treatment of early breast cancer by hormonal, cytotoxic, or immune therapy: 133 randomised trials involving 31,000 recurrences and 24,000 deaths among 75,000 women. Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group. Lancet. 1992; 339:71-85.

Gelber RD, Goldhirsch A, Coates AS. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer: understanding the overview. International Breast Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 1993; 11:580-5.

Arugula:

I would much prefer, since you apparently have all the research studies at hand, while I am busy attending to clients who need my assistance, that you publish for us on this board, all the research studies on raw foods and their affect on cancer.

Also, please do note: NO ONE ON THIS BOARD HAS EVER STATED THAT DIET WILL CURE CANCER. As anyone who works with chronic illness knows: degenerative diseases at best are managed into remission.

But thank you for your apparent diligence in protecting the established medical community. I am certain they are very appreciative.

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

Ahhhhhhhhh, those who do not do, teach. Thank you both for your education.

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

When I wrote definitive, it was because of the massive scale. I provided a reference for you that examined the well-documented outcomes on tens of thousands of women with breast cancer, with or without treatment. But when I asked you for ten references providing credible evidence for what you claimed, which is several orders of magnitude fewer, you got all hot and bothered. I am not all hung up on the word "cure" as some seem to think. Remission and 10-year survival after diagnosis with a 10 or more lymph node metastatic involvement would be very impressive indeed.

>Ahhhhhhhhh, those who do not do, teach. Thank you both for your education.

What exactly do you mean by this?

>that you publish for us on this board, all the research studies on raw foods and their affect on cancer.

There aren't any papers for such an invasive level of breast cancer remission from a raw food diet. But I did collect a list of abstracts showing reduced risks for getting it.

I have posted this list at various times on various forums. Some of these are free online.

1. Link LB, Potter JD.,Rancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004 Sep;13(9):1422-35. Raw versus cooked vegetables and cancer risk,PMID: 15342442
2. Lee SA, Kang D, Nishio H, Lee MJ, Kim DH, Han W, Yoo KY, Ahn SH, Choe KJ, Hirvonen A, Noh DY.,Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism, diet, and breast cancer in Korean women, Exp Mol Med. 2004 Apr 30;36(2):116-21. PMID: 15150439
3. Hoshiyama Y, Sasaba T., A case-control study of stomach cancer and its relation to diet, cigarettes, and alcohol consumption in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, Cancer Causes Control. 1992 Sep;3(5):441-8, PMID: 1525325
4. Escribano Uzcudun A, Rabanal Retolaza I, Garcia Grande A, Miralles Olivar L, Garcia Garcia A, Gonzalez Baron M, Gavilan Bouzas J., Pharyngeal cancer prevention: evidence from a case--control study involving 232 consecutive patients.,Laryngol Otol. 2002 Jul;116(7):523-31, PMID: 12238672
5. Jedrychowski W.,Contribution of Epidemiology in Poland for better understanding of the natural history of diseases in gastrointestinal tract, J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;54 Suppl 3:245-61.PMID: 15075477
6. Sieri S, Krogh V, Pala V, Muti P, Micheli A, Evangelista A, Tagliabue G, Berrino,F.,Dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer in the ORDET cohort,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004 Apr;13(4):567-72, PMID: 15066921
7. Rouzaud G, Young SA, Duncan AJ.,Hydrolysis of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates after ingestion of raw or microwaved cabbage by human volunteers.,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004 Jan;13(1):125-31, PMID: 14744743
8. Adzersen KH, Jess P, Freivogel KW, Gerhard I, Bastert G.,Raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, selected micronutrients, and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Germany, Nutr Cancer. 2003;46(2):131-7,PMID: 14690788
9. Gaudet MM, Olshan AF, Poole C, Weissler MC, Watson M, Bell DA.,Diet, GSTM1 and GSTT1 and head and neck cancer,Carcinogenesis. 2004 May;25(5):735-40. Epub 2003 Dec 19,PMID: 14688020
10. Markaki I, Linos D, Linos A.,The influence of dietary patterns on the development of thyroid cancer.,Eur J Cancer. 2003 Sep;39(13):1912-9,PMID: 12932671
11. Lee SA, Kang D, Shim KN, Choe JW, Hong WS, Choi H., Effect of diet and Helicobacter pylori infection to the risk of early gastric cancer.,J Epidemiol. 2003 May;13(3):162-8.,PMID: 12749604
12. Tajima K, Hirose K, Inoue M, Takezaki T, Hamajima N, Kuroishi T., A Model of Practical Cancer Prevention for Out-patients Visiting a Hospital: the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC).,Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2000;1(1):35-47.,PMID: 12718687
13. Inoue M, Tajima K, Takezaki T, Hamajima N, Hirose K, Ito H, Tominaga S., Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer in Japan: a nested case-control study from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC).,Int J Epidemiol. 2003 Apr;32(2):257-62.,PMID: 12714546
14. Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Talamini R, Negri E, Levi F, Dal Maso L, Franceschi S.,Food groups and laryngeal cancer risk: a case-control study from Italy and Switzerland.,: Int J Cancer. 2002 Jul 20;100(3):355-60.,PMID: 12115553
15. Takezaki T, Gao CM, Wu JZ, Ding JH, Liu YT, Zhang Y, Li SP, Su P, Liu TK, Tajima K., Dietary protective and risk factors for esophageal and stomach cancers in a low-epidemic area for stomach cancer in Jiangsu Province, China: comparison with those in a high-epidemic area., Jpn J Cancer Res. 2001 Nov;92(11):1157-65., PMID: 11714439
16. Zeegers MP, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA, Consumption of vegetables and fruits and urothelial cancer incidence: a prospective study.,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2001 Nov;10(11):1121-8. PMID: 11700259
17. Huang XE, Tajima K, Hamajima N, Kodera Y, Yamamura Y, Xiang J, Tominaga S,Tokudome S.,Effects of dietary, drinking, and smoking habits on the prognosis of gastric cancer.,Nutr Cancer. 2000;38(1):30-6,PMID: 11341041
18. Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Talamini R, Simonato L, Zambon P, Negri E, Trichopoulos D, Lagiou P, Bardini R, Franceschi S.,Food groups and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in northern Italy,Int J Cancer. 2000 Jul 15;87(2):289-94,PMID: 10861489
19. De Stefani E, Boffetta P, Oreggia F, Brennan P, Ronco A, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Mendilaharsu M, Plant foods and risk of laryngeal cancer: A case-control study in Uruguay.,Int J Cancer. 2000 Jul 1;87(1):129-32,PMID: 10861463
20. Fedriga R, Calistri D, Nanni O, Cortesi L, Saragoni L, Amadori D, Relation between food habits and p53 mutational spectrum in gastric cancer patients, Int J Oncol. 2000 Jul;17(1):127-33,PMID: 10853029
21. Palli D., Epidemiology of gastric cancer: an evaluation of available evidence.,J Gastroenterol. 2000;35 Suppl 12:84-9, PMID: 10779225
22. Huang XE, Tajima K, Hamajima N, Xiang J, Inoue M, Hirose K, Tominaga S, Takezaki T, Kuroishi T, Tokudome S.,Comparison of lifestyle and risk factors among Japanese with and without gastric cancer family history, Int J Cancer. 2000 May 1;86(3):421-4,PMID: 10760832
23. Franceschi S, Favero A,The role of energy and fat in cancers of the breast and colon-rectum in a southern European population.,Ann Oncol. 1999;10 Suppl 6:61-3,PMID: 10676554
24. Takezaki T, Gao CM, Ding JH, Liu TK, Li MS, Tajima K.,Comparative study of lifestyles of residents in high and low risk areas for gastric cancer in Jiangsu Province, China; with special reference to allium vegetables, J Epidemiol. 1999 Nov;9(5):297-305,PMID: 10616262
25. Gao CM, Takezaki T, Ding JH, Li MS, Tajima K,Protective effect of allium vegetables against both esophageal and stomach cancer: a simultaneous case-referent study of a high-epidemic area in Jiangsu Province, China,Jpn J Cancer Res. 1999 Jun;90(6):614-21,PMID: 10429652
26. Favero A, Parpinel M, Franceschi S, Diet and risk of breast cancer: major findings from an Italian case-control study, Biomed Pharmacother. 1998;52(3):109-15,PMID: 9755803
27. Levi F, Pasche C, La Vecchia C, Lucchini F, Franceschi S, Monnier P,Food groups and risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer,Int J Cancer. 1998 Aug 31;77(5):705-9,PMID: 9688303
28. Galanis DJ, Kolonel LN, Lee J, Nomura A., Intakes of selected foods and beverages and the incidence of gastric cancer among the Japanese residents of Hawaii: a prospective study,Int J Epidemiol. 1998 Apr;27(2):173-80,PMID: 9602395
29. Franceschi S, Parpinel M, La Vecchia C, Favero A, Talamini R, Negri E.,Role of different types of vegetables and fruit in the prevention of cancer of the colon, rectum, and breast,Epidemiology. 1998 May;9(3):338-41,PMID: 9583427
30. Palli D, Caporaso NE, Shiao YH, Saieva C, Amorosi A, Masala G, Rice JM, Fraumeni JF Jr., Diet, Helicobacter pylori, and p53 mutations in gastric cancer: a molecular epidemiology study in Ital,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1997 Dec;6(12):1065-9, PMID: 9419404
31. Braga C, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Franceschi S, Parpinel M, Intake of selected foods and nutrients and breast cancer risk: an age- and menopause-specific analysis,Nutr Cancer. 1997;28(3):258-63,PMID: 9343834
32. Steinmetz KA, Potter JD., Vegetables, fruit, and cancer prevention: a review., J Am Diet Assoc. 1996 Oct;96(10):1027-39,PMID: 8841165
33. Takezaki T, Hirose K, Inoue M, Hamajima N, Kuroishi T, Nakamura S, Koshikawa T, Matsuura H, Tajima K,Tobacco, alcohol and dietary factors associated with the risk of oral cancer among Japanese, Jpn J Cancer Res. 1996 Jun;87(6):555-62,PMID: 8766517
34. Palli D., Epidemiology of gastric cancer, Ann Ist Super Sanita. 1996;32(1):85-99, PMID: 8967726
35. Franceschi S, Favero A, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Dal Maso L, Salvini S, Decarli A, Giacosa A., Influence of food groups and food diversity on breast cancer risk in Italy, Int J Cancer. 1995 Dec 11;63(6):785-9, PMID: 8847134
36. Cornee J, Pobel D, Riboli E, Guyader M, Hemon B, A case-control study of gastric cancer and nutritional factors in Marseille, France, Eur J Epidemiol. 1995 Feb;11(1):55-65, PMID: 7489774
37. Flagg EW, Coates RJ, Jones DP, Byers TE, Greenberg RS, Gridley G, McLaughlin JK, Blot WJ, Haber M, Preston-Martin S, et al., Dietary glutathione intake and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer,Am J Epidemiol. 1994 Mar 1;139(5):453-65,PMID: 8154469
38. Gao CM, Tajima K, Kuroishi T, Hirose K, Inoue M., Protective effects of raw vegetables and fruit against lung cancer among smokers and ex-smokers: a case-control study in the Tokai area of Japan,Jpn J Cancer Res. 1993 Jun;84(6):594-600, PMID: 8340248
39. Kwiatkowski A, Dietary and other environmental risk factors in acute leukaemias: a case-control study of 119 patients,Eur J Cancer Prev. 1993 Mar;2(2):139-46,PMID: 8461864
40. Hoshiyama Y, Sasaba T, A case-control study of stomach cancer and its relation to diet, cigarettes, and alcohol consumption in Saitama Prefecture, Japan,Cancer Causes Control. 1992 Sep;3(5):441-8,PMID: 1525325
41. Palli D, Bianchi S, Decarli A, Cipriani F, Avellini C, Cocco P, Falcini F, Puntoni R, Russo A, Vindigni C, et al., A case-control study of cancers of the gastric cardia in Italy, Br J Cancer. 1992 Feb;65(2):263-6, PMID: 1739627
42. Cipriani F, Buiatti E, Palli D., Gastric cancer in Italy, Ital J Gastroenterol. 1991 Sep-Oct;23(7):429-35,PMID: 1742542
43. Boeing H, Frentzel-Beyme R, Berger M, Berndt V, Gores W, Korner M, Lohmeier R, Menarcher A, Mannl HF, Meinhardt M, et al., Case-control study on stomach cancer in Germany, Int J Cancer. 1991 Apr 1;47(6):858-64,PMID: 2010228.
44. Zemla B, Guminski S, Franek K, Kolosza Z, Banasik R., Etiological factors in invasive corpus uteri carcinoma, Neoplasma. 1991;38(2):157-63,PMID: 2041575
45. Boeing H., Epidemiological research in stomach cancer: progress over the last ten years,J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1991;117(2):133-43, PMID: 2036128
46. Moller H, Landt J, Pedersen E, Jensen P, Autrup H, Jensen OM., Urinary excretion of N-nitrosoproline in relation to consumption of raw and cooked vegetables in a Danish rural population,IARC Sci Publ. 1991;(105):168-71,PMID: 1855843
47. Kato I, Tominaga S, Ito Y, Kobayashi S, Yoshii Y, Matsuura A, Kameya A, Kano T., A comparative case-control analysis of stomach cancer and atrophic gastritis,Cancer Res. 1990 Oct 15;50(20):6559-64, PMID: 2208116
48. Kwiatkowski A., [Dietetic factors characterizing food habits of patients with acute leukemia],Acta Haematol Pol. 1990 Jul-Dec;21(2):207-18,PMID: 2131720
49. Goto R, Masuoka H, Yoshida K, Mori M, Miyake H., A case control study of cancer of the pancreas],Gan No Rinsho. 1990 Feb;Spec No:344-5,PMID: 2313889.
50. Graham S, Haughey B, Marshall J, Brasure J, Zielezny M, Freudenheim J, West D, Nolan J, Wilkinson G., Diet in the epidemiology of gastric cancer, Nutr Cancer. 1990;13(1-2):19-34, PMID: 2300492
51. Simard A, Vobecky J, Vobecky JS., Nutrition and lifestyle factors in fibrocystic disease and cancer of the breast,Cancer Detect Prev. 1990;14(5):567-72,PMID: 2224921
52. Buiatti E, Palli D, Decarli A, Amadori D, Avellini C, Bianchi S, Biserni R, Cipriani F, Cocco P, Giacosa A, et al., A case-control study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy,Int J Cancer. 1989 Oct 15;44(4):611-6,PMID: 2793233
53. Nakachi K, Imai K, Hoshiyama Y, Sasaba T.,The joint effects of two factors in the aetiology of oesophageal cancer in Japan, J Epidemiol Community Health. 1988 Dec;42(4):355-64,PMID: 3256578
54. Yu MC, Garabrant DH, Peters JM, Mack TM,Tobacco, alcohol, diet, occupation, and carcinoma of the esophagus,Cancer Res. 1988 Jul 1;48(13):3843-8.,PMID: 3378219
55. Tuyns AJ, Kaaks R, Haelterman M, Colorectal cancer and the consumption of foods: a case-control study in Belgium.,Nutr Cancer. 1988;11(3):189-204,PMID: 3405870
56. Zemla B, Guminski S, Banasik R, Study of risk factors in invasive cancer of the corpus uteri, Neoplasma. 1986;33(5):621-9,PMID: 3785468
57. Huang XE, Hirose K, Wakai K, Matsuo K, Ito H, Xiang J, Takezaki T, Tajima K.,Comparison of lifestyle risk factors by family history for gastric, breast, lung and colorectal cancer,Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2004 Oct-Dec;5(4):419-27, PMID: 15546249
58. Uzcudun AE, Retolaza IR, Fernandez PB, Sanchez Hernandez JJ, Grande AG, Garcia AG, Olivar LM, De Diego Sastre I, Baron MG, Bouzas JG.,Nutrition and pharyngeal cancer: results from a case-control study in Spain., Head Neck. 2002 Sep;24(9):830-40, PMID: 12211047

Arugula:

Thank you so much for posting again these studies. I will indeed, when I can take time away from clients, read or re-read all. Needless to say, with so many people unhealthy, I must allocate my time accordingly. But I do appreciate the posting - we all should be reading these studies, in my opinion

Am so glad we are essentially on the same page. Have a great New Year!

Blissed be,

Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

Fats are very necessary for all cancer remissions - GOOD fats are the foundation of hormones, immune cells, lymph tissue, neurotransmitters. Only makes sense. Thanks again.

Blissed be, Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

There's some really interesting passages in The China Study, with references, about breast cancer and the relation to diet. There is a very strong relation between diet and cancer, how anyone can say the contrary I find quite puzzling, especially someone who is aware of the raw foods paradigm. There is a lot of misinformation, such as the NUrses' Study and the Womens' Health Trial, which purport to show that there is no link, but they contain serious flaws.

Diet plays a huge role in cancer and heart disease and in general chronic diseases like those, there is a wealth of real information out there supporting that statement.

Cheers,
J

Thank you again A. Great post. Read all studies I could access & see clearly more has been done than I thought. However, still much more must be done before "raw foods" becomes our mainstay dietary standard.

Essentail fatty acids are critical to endocrine/immune/nervous system status. Cle
anest raw sources must be combined with raw veggies, fruits (sometimes) and seaweeds for healing of degenerative diseases.

Blissed be, Annie

Anne Kaspar
BodyByBliss.com
bodybybliss@gmail.com
505.690.0169

Artifical hormones culprint too. Recent stats released about decline in BC WHEN WOMEN STOPPED TAKING HRT. Even bio-identical implicated. Clearly no messing with God/Goddesses' plan.

Thanks everyone for great insight and contributions.

Blissed be,

Annie
bodybybliss.com

Small Molecule Offers Big Hope Against Cancer
Science Daily — DCA is an odourless, colourless, inexpensive, relatively non-toxic, small molecule. And researchers at the University of Alberta believe it may soon be used as an effective treatment for many forms of cancer.


U of A researcher Dr. Evangelos Michelakis has shown that this tiny DCA molecule could make a difference in the battle against cancer. (Image courtesy of University of Alberta) Ads by Google Advertise on this site

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Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, a professor at the U of A Department of Medicine, has shown that dichloroacetate (DCA) causes regression in several cancers, including lung, breast, and brain tumors.

Michelakis and his colleagues, including post-doctoral fellow Dr. Sebastian Bonnet, have published the results of their research in the journal Cancer Cell.

Scientists and doctors have used DCA for decades to treat children with inborn errors of metabolism due to mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondria, the energy producing units in cells, have been connected with cancer since the 1930s, when researchers first noticed that these organelles dysfunction when cancer is present.

Until recently, researchers believed that cancer-affected mitochondria are permanently damaged and that this damage is the result, not the cause, of the cancer. But Michelakis questioned this belief and began testing DCA, which activates a critical mitochondrial enzyme, as a way to "revive" cancer-affected mitochondria.

The results astounded him.

Michelakis and his colleagues found that DCA normalized the mitochondrial function in many cancers, showing that their function was actively suppressed by the cancer but was not permanently damaged by it.

More importantly, they found that the normalization of mitochondrial function resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth both in test tubes and in animal models. Also, they noted that DCA, unlike most currently used chemotherapies, did not have any effects on normal, non-cancerous tissues.

"I think DCA can be selective for cancer because it attacks a fundamental process in cancer development that is unique to cancer cells," Michelakis said. "Cancer cells actively suppress their mitochondria, which alters their metabolism, and this appears to offer cancer cells a significant advantage in growth compared to normal cells, as well as protection from many standard chemotherapies. Because mitochondria regulate cell death--or apoptosis--cancer cells can thus achieve resistance to apoptosis, and this appears to be reversed by DCA."

"One of the really exciting things about this compound is that it might be able to treat many different forms of cancer, because all forms of cancer suppress mitochondrial function; in fact, this is why most cancers can be detected by tests like PET (positron emission tomography), which detects the unique metabolic profile of cancer compared to normal cells," added Michelakis, the Canada Research Chair in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Another encouraging thing about DCA is that, being so small, it is easily absorbed in the body, and, after oral intake, it can reach areas in the body that other drugs cannot, making it possible to treat brain cancers, for example.

Also, because DCA has been used in both healthy people and sick patients with mitochondrial diseases, researchers already know that it is a relatively non-toxic molecule that can be immediately tested in patients with cancer.

Furthermore, the DCA compound is not patented and not owned by any pharmaceutical company, and, therefore, would likely be an inexpensive drug to administer, Michelakis added.

However, as DCA is not patented, Michelakis is concerned that it may be difficult to find funding from private investors to test DCA in clinical trials. He is grateful for the support he has already received from publicly funded agencies, such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), and he is hopeful such support will continue and allow him to conduct clinical trials of DCA on cancer patients.

"This preliminary research is encouraging and offers hope to thousands of Canadians and all those around the world who are afflicted by cancer, as it accelerates our understanding of and action around targeted cancer treatments," said Dr. Philip Branton, Scientic Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer.

Michelakis's research is currently funded by the CIHR, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada Research Chairs program, and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by University of Alberta.

AS WE KNEW - ITS ALL IN THE GUT, THE BILE. HIPPOCRATES AND THOSE BEFORE HIM SURELY WERE BRILLIANT BEYOND OUR TIMES.

Blissed be, Annie