Hi RB,
Yes, it is unfortunate that more money isn't put into the non-profitable research. However, did you know that there was a small trial done that showed that fish oil decreased weight loss in terminally ill patients?
Anyway, the drugs companies may use this type of information in ways they find profitable. There is actually a drug in development called DHA-paclitaxel or taxoprexin that attaches DHA to taxol. Cancers disproportionately suck in fatty acids, so the DHA gets more of the drug into cancer cells. Once the cancer cell takes in the DHA, it breaks off from the taxol, activating the drug and simultaneously, in theory, chemosensitizing the cancer cell. I think that it is being tried out in metastatic melanoma first:
http://www.scienceblog.com/community...200002582.html for the phase I trial results. The interesting thing is there were fewer side effects.
"The researchers reported that, at the highest dose of Taxoprexin® DHA-paclitaxel, they were able to administer 4.6 times more taxane than the maximum approved clinical dose of Taxol®. Some patients experienced a temporary reduction in their white blood cells. However, the reductions were transient and cell numbers returned to normal without treatment. None of the patients experienced hair loss or nerve problems, which are toxic side effects frequently associated with Taxol® and Taxotere®. In addition, no nausea or vomiting toxicities were seen."
So, this information does get used, but perhaps not in the less profitable ways.
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