Attacking cancer by starving it

[Lani]

New Agent Chokes Off Energy Supply, Kills Cancer Cells
Posted 4/7/2010
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cancer cells grow so fast that they can outstrip their blood supply, leaving them short of oxygen. The cells then produce energy in a way that needs less oxygen but more sugar.

Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute have designed an experimental drug that chokes off that sugar supply, causing the cells to self destruct.

The agent, called OSU-CG12, is an example of a new class of anticancer drugs called energy-restriction mimetic agents. It is described in a paper published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

“Energy restriction may offer a powerful new strategy for treating cancer because it targets a survival mechanism used by many types of cancer,” says principal investigator Ching-Shih Chen, professor of medicinal chemistry, of internal medicine and of urology.

“Our study proves that this new agent kills cancer cells through energy restriction. This is important because it shows that it is possible to design drugs that target energy restriction, and it is exciting because energy-restricting mimetic agents may also be useful for other diseases, including metabolic syndromes, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity,” Chen adds.

Energy-restricting mimetic agents cause changes in cancer cells that are similar to those that occur in cancer cells deprived of their main energy source, the sugar glucose.

To design the new agent, Chen and his collaborators started with a drug called ciglitazone, which had been developed to treat type II diabetes but also showed anticancer activity in laboratory experiments.

That original drug produced its anti-diabetic effects by activating a protein called PPAR-gamma and a number of genes. The same mechanism was thought responsible for the drug’s anticancer effects. Chen and his colleagues showed, however, that the anticancer effects were due to a different mechanism, one involving energy restriction.

To enhance that activity, they altered the structure of the ciglitazone molecule, producing OSU-CG12. Using prostate cancer and breast cancer cell lines, they showed that the new Ohio State agent was 10 times better at killing cancer cells than ciglitazone and a second agent, the drug resveratrol, a natural product found in grapes and red wine that has weak anticancer activity and also works through energy restriction.

Furthermore, they showed that the new agent both stops glucose from entering cancer cells and suppresses the cells’ ability to metabolize the sugar.

Starved for fuel, the cancer cells begin consuming themselves, a process called autophagy – self eating – accompanied by other biochemical events that lead to the cells’ death by a natural process called apoptosis.

Chen and his colleagues continue modifying OSU-CG12 to enhance its efficacy. They also hope to test the agent in other conditions such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Funding from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program supported this research

[kklouisiana]

i was diagnosed with HER2+ ER+ PR- on April 1,2010. Is it possible I will be able to experiment with this new drug?

[karen z]

Thanks Lani.............very interesting.
Karen

[Lani]

KK louisiana

Unfortunately no. There is not even a clinical trial yet. The drug is unavailable and hasn't even been determined to be safe in humans (just because a drug similar to it is, doesn't mean it is) They don't know the proper dose or scheduling of dosing for it nor that it is effective in humans. They basically tried it out on cell cultures in Petri-type dishes.

Sorry about your April Fool's Day diagnosis.

You found an excellent site to hear about what your choices may be, what others have experienced as well as what new drugs are being used in trials, what non-drug substances may be good or bad for your breast cancer, how to deal with all that comes with diagnosis and treatment as well as some news about new things being discovered.

There are more improvements in treatment of her2+ breast cancer than any other type of breast cancer and more are on the way. So although it previously was listed as one with "dire prognosis" now it may be considered a relatively fortunate diagnosis as at least there are drugs shown to be effective for it. Not all drugs are effective for all people and they are finding there are subtypes of her2+ breast cancer that behave differently and may need different treatment--but at least it is an area of active research with REAL progress being made.

Best of luck!

[StephN]

Thanks Lani -
I love this treatment approach!

In my own case I tried to do something like this just by changing my diet somewhat dramatically and suddenly stopping eating simple sugars when I became stage IV.

This is not the same as this drug, but I think does make the cancer cells wait a bit for their nutrition as it takes longer to break down other foods to that state.

Am I way off on that??

[Rich66]

kk,
Ask your onc about adding Metformin to your treatment. Green Tea also has antiglycolysis properties. Vitamin D and Quercetin are thought to regulate blood sugar too.

[kklouisiana]

Lani and Rich66, thank you so much for your information. I am going to Abraham Breast Clinic April 15 to see oncology breast specialist, Dr. Dana Abraham. I have been drinking green tea periodically lately and also just bought some vitamin D tablets. First things first though, while I'm waiting on my trip to Arkansas: I'm going to the French Quarter Festival Friday thru Sunday with lots of friends. We go every year and it's so much fun to be with friends, eat fantastic food and listen to great music. I am blessed already to have found this website and people like you to learn from. I will be back!

[fullofbeans]

Hi revesratrol which is mentioned in the article is not as such a "drug", it is an over counter supplement (quite expensive actually).

StephN: avoidance of fast sugar is very good for a number of things such as avoiding the formation of certain growth factors that stimulate tumor spread/formation. It also avoid lowering you immune system, I think that something like a spoon of sugar is enough to reduce your immune system for several hours. But basically in some way sugar does not directly starve the cancer but still help a lot to fight by being heathier and not stimulate cell growth. But all carb are broken down to glucose.

Back to revesratrol, less publicised is that it is also the chemical that your body produces when you do a fast. I can never repeat enough that fasting is not the same as starving. Fasting is when your body uses its surplus of fat to eat, starving is when you have no fat left and therefore has to use organ two extremely different thing that unfortunately people associate. When you fast you are still eating but your healthy cell can eat fat however cancer cell only survive through glycolysis (i.e. on glucose, and are unable to use fat.

When you fast (i.e. having fat surplus) your body go into a protective mode and immune system is stimulated (80% is tied up in digestion) and revesratrol is produced. Remember that article about the fasting mice had no secondary effect from chemo when fasting but still cancer cell being killed.. not enough research on this.. but who would research a 'free' fast.

[kklouisiana]

I am back. Dr. Abraham told me the invasive cancer on mammogram had been removed by surgeon and surrounding tissue was in situ. She is removing both breasts on May 10 which is 3 weeks away. I have been reading and asking questions about hormonal cancer and realized I've been eating the wrong foods; mainly dairy products for a year now. Milk, cheese, and real butter have been my daily intake along with anything sweet. I just threw away all that and now stocked up on almond milk, asparagus, pro-biotics and Breast-D vitamin which is 4000 iu capsules I take daily. Anyone agree or disagree with this change in diet? Also, acai berry juice is one of my daily drinks.

[Rich66]

Her2+/Er+ may still be enhanced by soy, despite media mentioning a reversal on this. It may be true for Her2-.

also..coffee, even decaf, seems to be estrogenic.

You can use Stevia, a natural sugar substitute with anticancer properties, as a sweetener.


Are you saying you had a positive biopsy in both breasts? have they consiederd neoadjuvant (presurgery) treatment with Herceptin and/or endocrine therapy?
If you are destined for general anesthesia, run this by the surgeon:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=42074

[Karen Wheel]

Thank god they are starting to research in the right direction!

Okay - we all know that cancer loves sugar!? Why don't you just give it up!? I did and its not that tough.... (yes it sucks as I miss the yummy sweets and the double tall cappuccinos --- oh, and its hard to eat out but you can always find a salad and some olive oil!) also, gave up all things that change to sugar quickly (like breads, pastas or rice --- all white!) but I still eat a small amount of whole grains .... Lots of vegetables --- try to eat 70-80% raw.

All these things combine with the suggestions of supplements (thank you Rich!) like Vit D.

But, honestly - we have to starve the bastard (sorry ladies but cancer is one) out! Drinking coffee, and eating foods that turn to acid (most all animal products breads etc, and sugar!) are all like throwing gas on a forest fire... with cancer we are what we eat!

Few of my favorite sites with loads of information:

http://www.i-amperfectlyhealthy.com/index.html
http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com/index.html
http://www.carcinomacancer.org/cance...ph-factor.html
www.drday.com
http://www.cancerrd.com/
www.livingfoodsinstitute.com
http://cancermonitor.blogspot.com/20...reatments.html
http://www.creativehealthinstitute.com/wheat_grass.htm
http://www.healthquarters.org/
www.gerson.org

Favorite Books:

The Cancer Battle Plan Sourcebook (this is the updated version) by David Frahm
Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor – by Kris Carr
Beating Cancer with Nutrition – by Patrick Quillin PhD, RD, CNS
Eat to Live – by Joel Fuhrman, MD
The Gerson Therapy – The amazing nutritional program for cancer and other illnesses – by Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker, DPM
A Cancer Therapy – Results of Fifty Cases – by Max Gerson, MD

Live long and strong –
Karen

[AlaskaAngel]

For what it is worth (as a stage I), most of the 8 years since treatment I've stayed on a low-glycemic organic diet, focusing on balancing the omega's and getting daily exercise, and am still NED. I had chemo and a short run of tamoxifen, but have never had trastuzumab. I think it makes a difference and I just hope it keeps working.

A.A.

[Lien]

Sorry to be a spoilsport, but the diet approach isn't foolproof. I am allergic to most grains, dairy, eggs, pork, beef, coffee, tea, chocolate and some other stuff. I've lived on a low alcohol, lots of fruit, lots of vegetables, chicken, lamb, fish diet for years. I quit eating sugar 25 years ago because of hypoglycaemia. Yet I developed breastcancer.

I think that eating healthy foods helps your body fight cancer, perhaps makes it less susceptible to it, but there's no guarantee. For me, most likely other factors triggered the process.

Love

Jacqueline

[AlaskaAngel]

Jacqueline,

I wish it was foolproof. I think the low-glycemic diet is key, but I also think that a likely source for breast cancer for you and I is our northern exposure with its lack of adequate vitamin D. Long before the recent awareness by medical providers, and right after surgery in 2002 , I increased my time in the sun whenever the sun came out, without sunglasses and with lots of skin bared, and increased the daily supplement tablets. I think it does matter.

A.A.

[Jackie07]

Thanks, Jacqueline.

Since I was little, all my ailments were attributed to my being born premature and/or my bad habits [my poor teeth couldn't chew the veges well - it improved after I was grown; my late-night studying habit changed after my brain tumor was removed; ...]

I had felt so wronged and so misunderstood, I got interested in studying human behaviors and interpersonal relationships. The blame game finally 'stopped' after both my Mother and my 2nd Brother had developed cancer. There is some genetic factor involved in all three cancers, it appears. [Mother had been a vegeterian for over 10 years before her Lymphoma diagnosis; 2nd Brother has been the healthiest person in the family and is a disciplined person who exercised regularly.]

Diet and nutrition is certainly an important area to look at when one is battling cancer. Estrogen is fueled by fat is also a known fact. But none of the oncologist I have talked to would affirm the value of special diet or supplement. My Sister-in-law, a nutrition professor and a diet consultant stresses to me that a 'balanced' diet is essential for our health.

I think the article Lani had cited was talking about choking off the supply of sugar to the cancer cells. It is totally different from eliminating sugar from our diet. Just like the drugs that cut off the blood supply to the tumor such as Avastin - the mechnism has nothing to do with our being anemic or not. Nobody would try to become anemic to 'choke off' the blood supply to the tumor.

Sister-in-law has cooked several pots of good food for us. I'm staying at my Father-in-law's place for 2 weeks - the time his doctor estimated will take for him to recover. Father-in-law enjoys certain food. Being 87 years old, none of the rules, advices will overrule his own preference. Now, that's another big factor to consider...

[Karen Wheel]

Totally agree with the sisters here - there is no full proof way to not get cancer. There are lots of things in play. However I know that cancer loves sugar - also that it doesn't thrive in a pH neutral environment.... So I quit eating sugar -and regulate my pH by lots of veg and no meat (all animal products and fish are very acidic) so .... I am not sure it works - as I am only 1 year NED. :-)
Time will tell. However, most of all the miracle stories I have heard of people actually being cured --- long term of cancer, they all attribute diet, nutrition and exercise. I'm just counting on it working for me too. And, hey, its not a bad way to live! :-)

I'm feeling stronger every day!
Karen