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Lazarova D, Bordonaro M. Multifactorial causation of early onset colorectal cancer. J Cancer 2021; 12:6825-6834. [PMID: 34659571 PMCID: PMC8517991 DOI: 10.7150/jca.63676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The multiple-hit hypothesis of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC), states that neoplastic development requires a sequence of mutations and epigenetic changes in driver genes. We have previously proposed that obesity increases CRC risk by supporting neoplastic development through adipokine-induced signaling, and this proliferative signaling substitutes for specific driver gene mutations. In support of this hypothesis, analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) mutation data have revealed that obese patients with microsatellite stable CRC exhibit fewer driver gene mutations than CRC patients with normal body mass index. The lower number of driver gene mutations required for cancer development may shorten the neoplastic process and lead to an early onset of CRC. Therefore, obesity could be one factor explaining the rise of CRC incidence among younger individuals (< 50 years of age); furthermore, early onset CRC has been associated with the increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome and obesity in this age group. However, CRC incidence among older individuals (> 50 years of age) is stable or declining, despite the high rates of metabolic syndrome and obesity in this age group. In search for explanations of this phenomenon, we discuss several factors that may contribute to the divergent CRC incidence trends in populations under, and above, the age of 50, despite the rising levels of metabolic syndrome and obesity across all ages. First, older individuals with metabolic dysregulation are more frequently on maintenance medications, such as aspirin, β-blockers, lipid-lowering drugs, ACE inhibitors, metformin, etc., compared to younger individuals. Such treatments may suppress specific adipokine-induced proliferative signaling pathways, and therefore counteract and slow down neoplastic development in medicated overweight/obese individuals. Second, in the past decades, the incidence of infectious diseases accompanied by febrile episodes has been decreasing and the use of antipyretics increasing. Compared to normal cells, neoplastic cells are more sensitive to high body temperature; therefore, the decreased number of febrile episodes in childhood and adolescence may contribute to increased cancer incidence before the age of 50. Third, obesity at younger age may expand the stem cell compartment. An increased number of intestinal stem cells and stem cell divisions translates into a higher probability of sporadic mutations in the stem cells, and therefore, a greater chance of neoplasia. In conclusion, we hypothesize that early onset CRC has multifactorial causation and the proposed associations could be examined through analyses of existing data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Bordonaro
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 525 Pine Street, Scranton, PA 18509, USA
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2
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Reuter URM, Oettmeier R, Hobohm U. Safety of Therapeutic Fever Induction in Cancer Patients Using Approved PAMP Drugs. Transl Oncol 2018; 11:330-337. [PMID: 29425952 PMCID: PMC5884214 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
William Coley, between 1895 and 1936, treated hundreds of cancer patients using infusions of fever inducing bacerial extracts. Similar experiments were done by Klyuyeva and co-workers in the 1940ies in Russia using trypanosoma extracts. Many remissions and cures were reported. We have conjectured that pathogen associated molecular pattern substances (PAMP) are the molecular explanation for the beneficial treatments in both groups. We could show that a combination of PAMP can eradicate solid tumours in cancer mice if applied several times. Accordingly, we suggested to combine PAMP containing approved drugs to treat cancer patients using a protocol similar to the old fever induction regimen. In this retrospective phase-1 study we report on the fever induction capacity and safety of applications of bacterial extracts, combinations of bacterial extracts with approved drugs, and combinations of approved drugs in 131 mainly cancer patients. Adverse reactions were those which can be expected during a feverish infection and mild. Over 523 fever inductions, no severe adverse reaction was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ralf Oettmeier
- Ralf Oettmeier (RO), Paracelsusklinik, Battenhusstrasse 12, 9053 Teufen, Switzerland.
| | - Uwe Hobohm
- Uwe Hobohm (UH), THM University of Applied Sciences, Wiesenstrasse 14, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
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Jacqueline C, Tasiemski A, Sorci G, Ujvari B, Maachi F, Missé D, Renaud F, Ewald P, Thomas F, Roche B. Infections and cancer: the "fifty shades of immunity" hypothesis. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:257. [PMID: 28403812 PMCID: PMC5389015 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3234-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the beginning of the twentieth century, infection has emerged as a fundamental aspect of cancer causation with a growing number of pathogens recognized as oncogenic. Meanwhile, oncolytic viruses have also attracted considerable interest as possible agents of tumor destruction. DISCUSSION Lost in the dichotomy between oncogenic and oncolytic agents, the indirect influence of infectious organisms on carcinogenesis has been largely unexplored. We describe the various ways - from functional aspects to evolutionary considerations such as modernity mismatches - by which infectious organisms could interfere with oncogenic processes through immunity. Finally, we discuss how acknowledging these interactions might impact public health approaches and suggest new guidelines for therapeutic and preventive strategies both at individual and population levels. Infectious organisms, that are not oncogenic neither oncolytic, may play a significant role in carcinogenesis, suggesting the need to increase our knowledge about immune interactions between infections and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Jacqueline
- CREEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Aurélie Tasiemski
- Unité d’Evolution, Ecologie et Paléontologie (EEP) Université de Lille 1 CNRS UMR 8198, groupe d’Ecoimmunologie des Annélides, 59655 Villeneuve-d’Ascqd’Ascq, France
| | - Gabriele Sorci
- BiogéoSciences, CNRS UMR 6282, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Vic Australia
| | - Fatima Maachi
- Laboratoire de Pathologie Oncologie Digestive, Institut Pasteur 1, Place Abou Kacem Ez-Zahraoui- B.P, 120, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Dorothée Missé
- CREEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - François Renaud
- CREEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Paul Ewald
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 USA
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- International Center for Mathematical and Computational Modeling of Complex Systems (UMI IRD/UPMC UMMISCO), 32 Avenue Henri Varagnat, 93143 Bondy Cedex, France
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Schläppi M, Ewald C, Kuehn JJ, Weinert T, Huber R. Fever Therapy With Intravenously Applied Mistletoe Extracts for Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study. Integr Cancer Ther 2016; 16:479-484. [PMID: 27387685 PMCID: PMC5739132 DOI: 10.1177/1534735416658121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose. So-called spontaneous remissions in cancer often seem to occur after febrile events. Mistletoe preparations (MPs) are used off-label intravenously to induce fever within concepts of integrative oncology. We wanted to investigate the frequency of febrile reactions and safety related to intravenously applied MPs (IAMPs). Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of data from consecutive cancer patients who were treated in 2 anthroposophic hospitals with IAMPs. The main outcome parameter was the rate of core temperature increase to ≥38.5°C within 24 hours after IAMPs. Secondary outcome parameters were Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE; version 4.0). Results. 59 patients, with in total 567 IAMPs, were analyzed; 45 patients (76%, 95% CI = 65%-87%) had an increase of core temperature to ≥38.5°C after at least 1 treatment. Mean increase in temperature was 1.5°C ± 0.8°C. Adverse events were mostly fever-related symptoms (headache, joint pain, shivering). Grade 1 allergic reactions were documented in 0.6% of treatments. CTCAEs grade 3 to 5 did not occur; 38/59 patients had advanced and/or metastatic disease. Conclusion. IAMPs resulted in febrile reactions to >38.5°C in the majority of patients and can be considered as safe. Adverse events were mostly related to fever and were not severe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Roman Huber
- 2 University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany
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Bordonaro M, Shirasawa S, Lazarova DL. In Hyperthermia Increased ERK and WNT Signaling Suppress Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8050049. [PMID: 27187477 PMCID: PMC4880866 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8050049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although neoplastic cells exhibit relatively higher sensitivity to hyperthermia than normal cells, hyperthermia has had variable success as an anti-cancer therapy. This variable outcome might be due to the fact that cancer cells themselves have differential degrees of sensitivity to high temperature. We hypothesized that the varying sensitivity of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to hyperthermia depends upon the differential induction of survival pathways. Screening of such pathways revealed that Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) signaling is augmented by hyperthermia, and the extent of this modulation correlates with the mutation status of V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS). Through clonal growth assays, apoptotic analyses and transcription reporter assays of CRC cells that differ only in KRAS mutation status we established that mutant KRAS cells are more sensitive to hyperthermia, as they exhibit sustained ERK signaling hyperactivation and increased Wingless/Integrated (WNT)/beta-catenin signaling. We propose that whereas increased levels of WNT and ERK signaling and a positive feedback between the two pathways is a major obstacle in anti-cancer therapy today, under hyperthermia the hyperinduction of the pathways and their positive crosstalk contribute to CRC cell death. Ascertaining the causative association between types of mutations and hyperthermia sensitivity may allow for a mutation profile-guided application of hyperthermia as an anti-cancer therapy. Since KRAS and WNT signaling mutations are prevalent in CRC, our results suggest that hyperthermia-based therapy might benefit a significant number, but not all, CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bordonaro
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA 18509, USA.
| | - Senji Shirasawa
- Department of Cell Biology, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
| | - Darina L Lazarova
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA 18509, USA.
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Zhu S, Wang J, Xie B, Luo Z, Lin X, Liao DJ. Culture at a Higher Temperature Mildly Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth but Enhances Chemotherapeutic Effects by Inhibiting Cell-Cell Collaboration. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137042. [PMID: 26495849 PMCID: PMC4619682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute febrile infections have historically been used to treat cancer. To explore the underlying mechanism, we studied chronic effects of fever on cancer cell growth and chemotherapeutic efficacy in cell culture. We found that culturing cancer cells at 39°C mildly inhibited cell growth by arresting the cells at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. When cells were seeded in culture dishes at a lower density, e.g. about 1000–2000 cells per 35-mm dish, the growth inhibition was much greater, manifested as many fewer cell colonies in the 39°C dishes, compared with the results at a higher density seeding, e.g. 20,000 cells per dish, suggesting that cell-cell collaboration as the Allee effect in cell culture is inhibited at 39°C. Withdrawal of cells from serum enhanced the G1 arrest at 39°C and, for some cell lines such as A549 lung cancer cells, serum replenishment failed to quickly drive the cells from the G1 into the S and G2-M phases. Therapeutic effects of several chemotherapeutic agents, including clove bud extracts, on several cancer cell lines were more potent at 39°C than at 37°C, especially when the cells were seeded at a low density. For some cell lines and some agents, this enhancement is long-lasting, i.e. continuing after the cessation of the treatment. Collectively these results suggest that hyperthermia may inhibit cancer cell growth by G1 arrest and by inhibition of cell-cell collaboration, and may enhance the efficacy of several chemotherapeutic agents, an effect which may persist beyond the termination of chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengming Zhu
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, 55912, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Jiangang Wang
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, 55912, United States of America
| | - Bingkun Xie
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, 55912, United States of America
| | - Zhiguo Luo
- Department of Oncology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (ZL); (XL); (DJL)
| | - Xiukun Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, Capital Medical University, 10 West, Youanmen Outside, Beijing, 100069, China
- * E-mail: (ZL); (XL); (DJL)
| | - D. Joshua Liao
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, 55912, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ZL); (XL); (DJL)
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Liu B, Ezeogu L, Zellmer L, Yu B, Xu N, Joshua Liao D. Protecting the normal in order to better kill the cancer. Cancer Med 2015; 4:1394-403. [PMID: 26177855 PMCID: PMC4567024 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is the only option for oncologists when a cancer has widely spread to different body sites. However, almost all currently available chemotherapeutic drugs will eventually encounter resistance after their initial positive effect, mainly because cancer cells develop genetic alterations, collectively coined herein as mutations, to adapt to the therapy. Some patients may still respond to a second chemo drug, but few cases respond to a third one. Since it takes time for cancer cells to develop new mutations and then select those life-sustaining ones via clonal expansion, "run against time for mutations to emerge" should be a crucial principle for treatment of those currently incurable cancers. Since cancer cells constantly change to adapt to the therapy whereas normal cells are stable, it may be a better strategy to shift our focus from killing cancer cells per se to protecting normal cells from chemotherapeutic toxicity. This new strategy requires the development of new drugs that are nongenotoxic and can quickly, in just hours or days, kill cancer cells without leaving the still-alive cells with time to develop mutations, and that should have their toxicities confined to only one or few organs, so that specific protections can be developed and applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingya Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lewis Ezeogu
- Hormel Institute, University of MinnesotaAustin, Minnesota, 55912
| | - Lucas Zellmer
- Hormel Institute, University of MinnesotaAustin, Minnesota, 55912
| | - Baofa Yu
- Beijing Baofa Cancer Hospital, Shahe Wangzhuang Gong Ye YuanChang Pin Qu, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ningzhi Xu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceBeijing, 100021, China
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Zhang J, Lou X, Jin L, Zhou R, Liu S, Xu N, Liao DJ. Necrosis, and then stress induced necrosis-like cell death, but not apoptosis, should be the preferred cell death mode for chemotherapy: clearance of a few misconceptions. Oncoscience 2014; 1:407-22. [PMID: 25594039 PMCID: PMC4284620 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell death overarches carcinogenesis and is a center of cancer researches, especially therapy studies. There have been many nomenclatures on cell death, but only three cell death modes are genuine, i.e. apoptosis, necrosis and stress-induced cell death (SICD). Like apoptosis, SICD is programmed. Like necrosis, SICD is a pathological event and may trigger regeneration and scar formation. Therefore, SICD has subtypes of stress-induced apoptosis-like cell death (SIaLCD) and stress-induced necrosis-like cell death (SInLCD). Whereas apoptosis removes redundant but healthy cells, SICD removes useful but ill or damaged cells. Many studies on cell death involve cancer tissues that resemble parasites in the host patients, which is a complicated system as it involves immune clearance of the alien cancer cells by the host. Cancer resembles an evolutionarily lower-level organism having a weaker apoptosis potential and poorer DNA repair mechanisms. Hence, targeting apoptosis for cancer therapy, i.e. killing via SIaLCD, will be less efficacious and more toxic. On the other hand, necrosis of cancer cells releases cellular debris and components to stimulate immune function, thus counteracting therapy-caused immune suppression and making necrosis better than SIaLCD for chemo drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Lou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Longyu Jin
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Rongjia Zhou
- Department of Genetics & Center for Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Siqi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ningzhi Xu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Institute, Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - D. Joshua Liao
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
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Placenta-derived gp96 as a multivalent prophylactic cancer vaccine. Sci Rep 2014; 3:1947. [PMID: 23739295 PMCID: PMC3674428 DOI: 10.1038/srep01947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A major challenge for designing prophylactic cancer vaccines is to define immunogenic and safe cancer antigens. Given the striking similarity of antigen expression patterns between cancer and embryonic tissues, we defined a prototype strategy of using placenta-derived heat shock protein gp96, which induces prophylactic anti-tumor T cell responses. Immunization with placental gp96 provided partial protection and long-term (at least 3 months) anti-tumor immunity against growth of transplantable melanoma or breast tumors in mice, elicited total protection against 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in rats, and significantly reduced the occurrence and growth of autochthonous breast tumors in HER2 transgenic mice. Placental gp96 activated HER2- and MUC1-specific T cell responses through binding to tumor-associated antigens. Our results reveal the novel immunogenicity of placental gp96 and its potential use as a multivalent cancer vaccine.
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10
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Prophylactic cancer vaccine, from concept to reality? CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-014-0176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Maletzki C, Linnebacher M, Savai R, Hobohm U. Mistletoe lectin has a shiga toxin-like structure and should be combined with other Toll-like receptor ligands in cancer therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 62:1283-92. [PMID: 23832140 PMCID: PMC11028761 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1455-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mistletoe extract (ME) is applied as an adjuvant treatment in cancer therapy in thousands of patients each year in Europe. The main immunostimulating component of mistletoe extract, mistletoe lectin, recently has been shown to be a pattern recognition receptor ligand and hence is binding to an important class of pathogen-sensing receptors. Pattern recognition receptor ligands are potent activators of dendritic cells. This activation is a prerequisite for a full-blown T-cell response against cancer cells. Pattern recognition receptor ligands are increasingly recognized as important players in cancer immunotherapy. We collect evidence from case studies on spontaneous regression, from epidemiology, from experiments in a mouse cancer model, and from protein structure comparisons to argue that a combination of mistletoe therapy with other pattern recognition receptor ligand substances leads to an increased immune stimulatory effect. We show that mistletoe lectin is a plant protein of bacterial origin with a 3D structure very similar to shiga toxin from Shigella dysenteriae, which explains the remarkable immunogenicity of mistletoe lectin. Secondly, we show that a combination of pattern recognition receptor ligands applied metronomically in a cancer mouse model leads to complete remission, while single pattern recognition receptor ligands slowed tumor growth. Taken together, we propose to combine mistletoe drugs with other pattern recognition receptor ligand drugs to increase its efficacy in adjuvant or even primary cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rajkumar Savai
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Uwe Hobohm
- University of Applied Sciences, Wiesenstrasse 14, 35390 Giessen, Germany
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Inpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonias with integrative medicine. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:578274. [PMID: 23762145 PMCID: PMC3674684 DOI: 10.1155/2013/578274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction. The aim of the presented observational case series was to evaluate the experience in treating patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) within integrative medicine, particularly anthroposophic medicine in a well-experienced and specialized unit. Patients and Methods. Patients with proven CAP were evaluated (CAP-study group) based on a retrospective chart review. To estimate the severity of pneumonia, the pneumonia severity index (PSI) was applied. Treatment efficacy was evaluated regarding body temperature, CRP level, leukocytes blood count, the need to be treated on ICU, and mortality. Results were compared with the inpatient data of the Pneumonia PORT Validation Cohort. Results. 15/18 patients of the CAP-study group belonged to risk class groups I–III (low and moderate risk), 2 patients to risk class IV, and one patient to risk class V (severe pneumonia). 16/18 patients were treated with anthroposophic medicine only and 2/18 got additionally antibiotic therapy (both of risk class IV). A significant reduction of body temperature, CRP level, and leukocytes blood count has been obtained by applying anthroposophic medicine, while neither complications nor pneumonia-related death occurred. Compared with the control group there was no significant difference in mortality rate, whereby no patient had to be treated on the ICU, but the duration of hospital stay was significantly longer in the presented series. Conclusion. Inpatient treatment of CAP with anthroposophic medicine without the use of antibiotics may achieve reasonable results in selected cases. Additional larger sized prospective controlled trials should further clarify the role of AM in the treatment of CAP.
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Mastrangelo G, Fadda E, Cegolon L. Endotoxin and cancer chemo-prevention. Cancer Epidemiol 2013; 37:528-33. [PMID: 23692704 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2013.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Reduced rates of lung cancer have been observed in several occupational groups exposed to high levels of organic dusts contaminated by endotoxin. The underlying anti-neoplastic mechanism of endotoxin may be an increased secretion of endogenous anti-neoplastic mediators and activation of the toll-like receptors (TLR). A detoxified endotoxin derivative, Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPL(®)) is marketed in Europe since 1999 as part of the adjuvant systems in allergy vaccines for treatment of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and allergic asthma. Over 200,000 patients have used them to date (nearly 70% in Germany). Since detailed exposure (MPL(®) dose and timing of administration) and individual data are potentially available, an observational follow-up study could be conducted in Germany to investigate the protective effect of MPL(®) against cancer, comparing cancer incidence in two groups of patients with allergic rhinitis: those treated with allergoids plus MPL(®) and those treated with a vaccine including the same allergoids but not MPL(®). The protective effect of MPL(®) could be quantified in ever and never smokers. If this proposed observational study provides evidence of protective effects, MPL(®) could be immediately used as a chemo-preventive agent since it is already in use as adjuvant in human vaccines against cancer.
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