Pancreatic Cancer

Food-Derived Polyphenols

Genistein prevents pancreatic cancer cell growth primarily by regulating sugar metabolism (Boros LG et al 2001). In addition, genistein inactivates NF-kappa B (Li Y et al 2005), thus sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents such as Gemzar® (Banerjee S et al 2005), cisplatin and docetaxel (Li Y et al 2004), and VP-16 and doxorubicin (Sato T et al 2003). In laboratory experiments, genistein has been shown to improve survival, reduce tumor blood-vessel development (Buchler P et al 2004), almost completely inhibit cancer metastasis, and increase cancer cell suicide (Buchler P et al 2003).

If the pathology report shows that the pancreatic cancer cells have a mutated p53 oncogene, or if there is no p53 detected, then high-dose genistein therapy may be appropriate (Choi YH et al 2000; Wilson LC et al 2003). If the pathology report shows a functional p53, then genistein is less effective in stopping cancer growth. The suggested dose of genistein is approximately 500 mg daily (Miltyk W et al 2003; Takimoto CH et al 2003).

Green Tea. Tea is particularly rich in polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that act as antioxidants. Black and green tea extracts reduce pancreatic tumor cell growth by approximately 90 percent while preventing angiogenesis (Maiti TK et al 2003; Masamune A et al 2005; Roomi MW et al 2005). They also decrease the expression of the K-ras gene (Lyn-Cook BD et al 1999a) and the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells (Takada M et al 2002). Animal experiments of pancreatic cancer show that tea polyphenols restrain carcinogen-induced increases in oxidative DNA damage (Frei B et al 2003).

Green tea extract curbs the process of pancreatic cancer development (Lyn-Cook BD et al 1999b) and the promotion of transplanted human pancreatic cancer in animals, and also causes pancreatic cancer cell death (Hiura A et al 1997; Qanungo S et al 2005).

In humans, an inverse relationship was observed between the amount of green tea consumed and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer; the highest intake was associated with the lowest risk of cancer (Ji BT et al 1997). In clinical studies, green tea supplementation has been shown to be safe and protective (Ahn WS et al 2003; Chow HH et al 2001; Chow HH et al 2003).

Antioxidants. Free radicals can cause repeated damage to normal cells and reduce the function of injured tissues. When sufficient antioxidants are available, free radicals are removed before excess damage occurs. Antioxidant levels are reduced in pancreatic cancer compared to other pancreatic diseases and healthy pancreatic tissue, resulting in increases in reactive oxygen (Cullen JJ et al 2003) that are capable of stimulating cancer cell division (Garcea G et al 2005; Vaquero EC et al 2004).

Increased levels of some antioxidants may be useful in slowing the growth of pancreatic cancer (Weydert C et al 2003). Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as selenium, increase antioxidants in the body needed to reduce free-radical damage (Woutersen RA et al 1999).

Vitamins A, C, and E. In animals in which pancreatic cancer was caused by chemicals, cancer incidence was decreased by 64.3 percent by vitamin A and by 71.4 percent with vitamin C. Both vitamins increased SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and were toxic to tumor cells but not to normal healthy cells (Wenger FA et al 2001).

• An overview of 14 randomized trials (with a total of 170,525 patients) showed significant effects of supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium (alone or in combination) versus placebo on pancreatic cancer incidence (Bjelakovic G et al 2004).
• A study of 23 pancreatic cancer patients tested retinol palmitate (vitamin A) and beta-interferon with chemotherapy. Eight patients responded and eight patients had stable disease. For all patients, median time to disease progression and survival time were 6.1 months and 11 months, respectively. Toxicity was high, but patients who had responses and disease stabilization had prolonged symptom relief (Recchia F et al 1998).
• Retinoids curb the growth and adhesion of a variety of pancreatic cancer types, even those that previously have been documented to be resistant to retinoids (El-Metwally TH et al 1999). Vitamin E succinate restrained pancreatic cancer cell growth in laboratory experiments (Heisler T et al 2000).
• Ascorbyl stearate, a fat-soluble form of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), markedly restrained the growth of—and even killed—pancreatic cancer cells (Naidu KA et al 2003).

Selenium. Selenium and beta-carotene were found to restrain the growth of pancreatic tumors caused by carcinogen exposure in mice (Appel MJ et al 1996). Selenium levels were found to be reduced in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent surgery to remove the upper portion of their intestine (Armstrong T et al 2002). In preclinical studies, a diet high in selenium reduced the number of carcinogen-induced pancreatic cancers significantly (Kise Y et al 1990).

Curcumin has many anticancer effects. It is a selective inhibitor of the COX-2 enzyme and may be beneficial in preventing and treating pancreatic cancer (Cuendet M et al 2000). It decreases NF-kappa B activity, which is involved in controlling the growth of pancreatic cancer cells (Li L et al 2004). It also inhibits interleukin-8 (IL-8) production, which affects invasiveness, cell growth, and tumor blood-vessel development (Hidaka H et al 2002).

Complementary Alternative Therapies

PSK (Polysaccharide K). PSK is a protein-bound polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of the mushroom Coriolus versicolor (Tsukagoshi S et al 1984). In Japan, PSK is used as a non-specific biological response modifier to enhance the immune system in cancer patients (Koda K et al 2003; Noguchi K et al 1995; Yokoe T et al 1997). PSK suppresses tumor cell invasiveness by down-regulating several invasion-related factors (Zhang H et al 2000). Also, PSK can enhance pancreatic cancer cell death induced by Taxotere® (docetaxel) (Zhang H et al 2003).

Two patients who had unresectable pancreatic cancer were treated with combined chemotherapy using cisplatin, PSK, and UFT (uracil-tegafur). During therapy, a partial response was observed, with a remarkable decrease in tumor size and no significant side effects. From the results of these two cases, this combination chemotherapy was considered to be one of the most effective therapies available for pancreatic cancer (Sohma M et al 1987). PSK has been used as adjuvant immunotherapy for cancer at a dose of 3 grams daily (Ito K et al 2004; Ohwada S et al 2004; Toge T et al 2000).

Ukrain (NSC-631570). Ukrain, a semisynthetic agent, has been used in complementary medicine for more than 20 years to treat benign and malignant tumors. In a phase II trial of advanced pancreatic cancer patients, Ukrain either alone or together with Gemzar® (gemcitabine) was found to be well-tolerated with only moderate toxicity, and doubled median survival times (Gansauge F et al 2002). In another study, Ukrain improved the quality of life of patients suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer while significantly prolonging their survival time (Zemskov V et al 2002).

Product Availability

All the nutrients and supplements discussed in this section are available through the Life Extension Foundation Buyers Club, Inc. For ordering information, call anytime toll-free 1-800-544-4440, or visit us online at www.LifeExtension.com.

The blood tests discussed in this section are available through Life Extension National Diagnostics, Inc. For ordering information, call anytime toll-free 1-800-208-3444, or visit us online at www.LifeExtension.com.

PSK sources

A PSK/Japanese formula called VPS® Coriolus versicolor is available from JHS Natural Products and can be ordered online (http://www.jhsnp.com) or by calling 1-888-330-4691 (toll-free in the U.S. only) or 1-541-344-1396 for international callers.

Each capsule of VPS® Coriolus versicolor extract contains 625 mg, requiring five capsules daily to equal the 3-gram dosage. The manufacturer recommends that the daily dose be split between morning and evening, taking three capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening, as close to 12 hours apart as possible, preferably on an empty stomach or with a light meal.

DRUG AVAILABILITY

For information on how to obtain Ukrain, please contact:
Ukrainian Anticancer Institute
Velyka Zhytomyrska 17/28,
Kiev, Ukraine
Tel: (+380) 44 27237191
Fax: (+380) 44 2723791