immunotherapy

Many years ago, diphtheria toxin (DT) showed antitumor activity in mice and in humans, but it was unclear whether this depended on the toxicity of the molecule only or on its strong inflammatory-immunological property as well. (Buzzi S., Cancer Res. 1982 May;42(5):2054-8). The same researchers, to deal with this open question, planned to treat a group of cancer patients with cross-reacting material 197 (CRM197).
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...The once-weekly injection of minute amounts of Gc-MAF, just 100 nanograms (billionths of a gram), activates macrophages and allows the immune system to pursue cancer cells with vigor, sufficient to produce total long-term cures in humans..."
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A report on the creation of a virus obtained genetically modifying a common adenovirus which could constitute a therapy against cancer has appeared recently in the scientific news. This virus would selectively infect cancer cells and force them to express a protein which calls for the intervention of macrophages, additionally stimulating them to multiply. This strategy would therefore help the body mounting a strong immune response against cancer cells.
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Cancer can spread only after having won the fight against the immune system. In the years scientists have discovered a number of strategies put in place by cancer cells to sneak out of the control of the immune system or even to counterfight it. Macrophages, a fundamental arm of immunity, should be put off for cancer affirmation.
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They are key determinants in autoimmunity but have been indicated to play a crucial role in cancer immune-evasion (Franzke A, Hunger JK, Dittmar KE, Ganser A, Buer J Regulatory T-cells in the control of immunological diseases. Ann Hematol. 2006 Nov;85(11):747-58. Epub 2006 Jul 27). Increasing evidences support the existence of elevated numbers of these regulatory Treg cells in solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
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In the review paper "Dichloroacetate (DCA) as a potent..." appeared in the Online first session, in September issue of BJP, Prof. Michelakis most interestingly underlines the importance of targeting the peculiar "aerobic glycolytic" metabolic status of tumors. He suggests that the "Warburg effect", as the phenomenon is more commonly known in the literature, can be modulated by unlocking a mitochondrial impairment in cancer cells and that this could be a very promising strategy to fight cancer.
One of the best known molecules that are able to perform that task, as indicated in the text, is the sodim dichloroacetate (DCA), an inhibitor of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) enzyme, operating downstream of HIF1. The interest for this molecule is currently very strong in the field of oncology and has been boosted by the fact that many cancer patients have started taking it on a voluntary basis, following indications coming from a couple of internet sites opened by a vendor of the drug itself (www.thedcasite.com).
We were attracted by the information that is currently being provided on one of those sites (www.thedcasite.com) that the DCA efficacy in shrinking tumors would be strongly potentiated by a simultaneous administration of caffeine. This detail is intriguing because caffeine is a known mitochondrial metabolic activator and a booster of mitochondrial mediated apoptotic pathway.(3)
There could be a rational below that an additional hit to the mitochondria of cancer cells, reactivated by the DCA, could accelerate the path to apoptosis in cancer cells in a powerful, albeit very dangerous way. In fact, on the same internet site, very serious, even fatal, "tumor lisis syndromes" episodes have been reported in the case of simultaneous assumption of high doses of caffeine and DCA.
We have some data on four cancer cell lines confirming the potentiating effect of caffeine on DCA induced apoptosis.(4) We believe that the phenomenon should be very soon studied, much faster than we could do here by ourselves, because it could be very helpful albeit also dangerous for many people out there, desperate for a cure.
1. Cancer patients opt for an unapproved drug. Nature 2007 (446), 474-5.
2. www.thedcasite.com
3. Dubrez L., Coll J.L., Hurbin A., Solary E., Favrot M.C. Caffeine sensitizes human H358 cell line to p53-mediated apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial translocation and conformational change of BAX protein. J. Biol. Chem. 2003 (10), 1074-80.
4. Conti M. The selfish cell. Springer The Nederland 2008 Eds. |
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cell energy therapy

Leukemia cells, like most cancers, are addicted to glucose to generate their energy, but new research shows that these cells also rely on fatty acid metabolism to grow and to evade cell death.
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DCA promoters recommend taking caffeine and extra thiamine (vitamin B1), hoping that this will help the DCA work better and reduce potential risks of nerve damage. In a survey conducted by the DCA site (www.thedcasite.com) a certain number of heavy tea or coffee drinkers observed astounding responses, even remissions. Here we propose that it could be the sugar contained in those drinks to have helped the DCA mote than, or maybe instead of, caffeine or theophylline.
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In the review paper "Dichloroacetate (DCA) as a potent..." appeared in the Online first session, in September issue of BJP, Prof. Michelakis most interestingly underlines the importance of targeting the peculiar "aerobic glycolytic" metabolic status of tumors. He suggests that the "Warburg effect", as the phenomenon is more commonly known in the literature, can be modulated by unlocking a mitochondrial impairment in cancer cells and that this could be a very promising strategy to fight cancer.
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By itself, metformin was ineffective in treating tumors. In a one-two punch, metformin reduced tumors faster and prolonged remission in mice longer than chemotherapy alone, apparently by targeting cancer stem cells, report Harvard Medical School researchers in the Sept. 14 advance online Cancer Research.
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In the last issue of Translational Oncology (2009, 2, pp. 138-145) a report appeared confirming that cellular bioenergetics is a central issue of investigation in cancer biology.
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DCA is in clinical trials and results are expected with great interest. Meanwhile stories can be heard from people, even read on the internet, that tell us that they or their relatives have benefited from using DCA against cancer expecially when combining it with other treatments.
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Recently patients, writing on the DCA site, have reported that adding green tea extracts to their DCA experimental anticancer regimen gave them benefits in term of cure efficacy.
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