Modified Citrus Pectin in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: Recent Promising Results Two studies published recently in prestigious peer reviewed journals have again demonstrated the role of MCP in the prevention and treatment of cancer. These studies are significant because they represent a complementary therapeutic approach to prostate cancer that is non-toxic, all natural, and synergistic with traditional approaches. I would like to share with you further insights on the groundbreaking report in The Prostate. The data from a phase II clinical trial using Modified Citrus Pectin for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer was just published in the journal The Prostate. The manuscript validated a new statistical method of evaluating the effectiveness of any nutritional supplement or drug. While the statistical method was satisfactorily peer reviewed, the methods and results of the clinical trial were not scrutinized. However, all the preliminary clinical data was presented. From a clinical perspective the results are very encouraging. Twelve patients were given 15 grams of Modified Citrus Pectin (PectaSol, EcoNugenics, Santa Rosa, CA 95404) per day for one year. All patients began the study after their PSA (prostate specific antigen) began to rise (biochemical relapse) following treatment designed to destroy the primary tumor in the prostate. Out of 12 patients with biochemical relapse of prostate cancer, only two patients didn't respond to the treatment. Nine out of twelve patients had a statistically significant response and a tenth patient who responded with a 78% lengthening of his PSA progression had a P value of 0.053 (close to the statistically significant response of P value<0.05). The analysis of the data shows that 75% of subjects had a statistically significant response. Six out of the twelve subjects MORE THAN DOUBLED their PSA doubling time. This translates to cancer progression slowing down by MORE THAN 50%. Increase in PSA doubling time for these patients varied between 129% and 941%. Two additional subjects had a DECREASE in their absolute PSA values. This is an interesting and an unexpected observation. If MCP was working solely by inhibiting metastasis and tumor emboli formation, as has been hypothesized, you wouldn't expect a decrease in PSA in two out of twelve patients with recurrent disease. A decrease in PSA can only be the result of destruction or inhibition of the active cancer tumor. In addition, the researchers noticed that patients PSA levels began dropping soon after treatment with MCP was initiated. This response to MCP occurred too rapidly to be explained by the previously accepted mechanism of action for MCP. As it turns out, recent research on galectin-3 suggests an important role for this molecule in angiogenesis. If galectin-3 is involved in new blood vessel formation, it would make sense that MCP would also be an anti-angiogenesis agent. And, since galectin-3 molecules are present in a wide range of cancers, the use of MCP would not be limited only to prostate cancer. Indeed, this is exactly what researchers at Wayne State University have shown in a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in December 2002. The paper, "Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin," clearly demonstrates that MCP reduces tumor growth, angiogenesis, as well as metastasis in tumors that contain galectin-3 molecules, notably human breast and colon cancer. This supports the hypothesis that MCP is effective against all cancer growths that contain galectin-3, not just those types that have been tested. The majority of cancers, including all breast cancers, express galectin-3 molecules. In the realm of overly hyped "cancer cures" with little if any scientific validation, MCP is a very important agent for prevention and treatment of cancer. As a result of these two recently published reports on MCP and cancer therapy, we have gained a greater understanding on how PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin works as well as its potential benefits. References 1. Guess B, Jennrich R, Johnson H, Redheffer R, Scholz M., 2003. Using splines to detect changes in PSA doubling times. The Prostate 54(2):88-94 2. Nangia-Makker P, Hogan V, Honjo Y, Baccarini S, Tait L, Bresalier R, Raz A., 2002. Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin. J Natl Cancer Inst 94(24):1854-62 3. Lahm H, Andre' S, Hoeflich A, Fischer JR, Sordat B, Kaltner H, Wolf E, Gabius HJ., 2001. Comprehensive galectin fingerprinting in a panel of 61 human tumor cell lines by RT-PCR and its implications for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 127:375-386 Source: www.dreliaz.com Written by Isaac Eliaz, MD, L.Ac Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. 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