Herbal extracts treat Cancer
Finding new ways to treat cancer keeps researchers on their toes. Cancer rates around the world are downright scary. The National Cancer Society states that there is a worldwide prevalence of 10,326,000 cancer victims. Of that number 2,439,000 are breast cancer victims.
There are currently no effective treatments for advanced breast cancer. Treatment is primarily palliative and focused on improving quality of life. Breast cancer victims are diagnosed at the rate of 200,000 per year and are the second cause of cancer death.
Recently, a drug used in Chinese medicine, barbed skullcap, was scrutinized for its effect on cancer. This Chinese herbal remedy was made into a pharmaceutical medicine by Bionovo and named BZL101. Clinical trials began in 2001 at the Cancer Research Network in Florida. In this study, 21 people took part in the Phase I of the trial. Out of the 21 people, 25% had stabilization of their Stage 4 illness for 90 days. Another 19% had stabilization for 180 days; five had some degree of tumor regression including one patient that was 1 mm short of a partial remission. Twelve study participants had disease progression.
Patients who took part in the study were all advanced breast cancer patients required to drink 350 ml of BZL101 as their sole source of treatment. The mean number of pre-treatments was 3.9. They were allowed to take vitamins, but not any other herbal therapy. Patients who had 2-3 pre-treatments seemed to fare better.
The participants took 12 grams per day of the skullcap based medication. Compliance with taking the drug extract was 84.5% with nine dropping out - 8 of whom discontinued due to an inability to tolerate taste of the extract or due to gastrointestinal side-effects. One person dropped out to start a new therapy.
The researchers concluded that the herbal based drug had a favorable toxicity profile and has now entered the drug into a Phase I and Phase II Clinical trial at 9 different US sites to determine safety, feasibility, dosing and efficacy.This study will be a multi-center,non- randomized, open-label, dose escalation trial. Bionovo, the drug manufacturer, was recently quoted as saying that the trial is still recruiting participants for the study and more information on this can be gleaned from their website at http://www.bzl101.com/.
The mechanism of action of BZL101 appears to work by singling out tumor cells & preventing them from undergoing glycolysis, a process where glycogen is broken down for about 85% of the cell’s energy needs. If the tumor cells cannot undergo glycolysis, it is difficult for the tumors to get nutrition and the cancer cells will start to shrink. Normal cells depend more on the citric acid cycle and very little on glycolysis.
In conclusion, it is encouraging to see a company such as Bionovo testing an herbal extract for cancer treatment properties, since herbs may be better tolerated than anti-cancer drugs. It is estimated that 80% of the world’s population rely on botanical medicine as their primary line of therapy. Although the initial Phase I study size was small, research continues.
The entire study may be viewed at:
http://www.bionovo.com/media/mediaarchives/Bionovo_Breast_Cancer_Research_Treatment.pdf
Source: Herbalgram
(http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/PageServer?pagename=05_01_Chinese_Herbs_Cancer&JServSessionIdr004=etukzagmr1.app5b)
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
Andy5 responds:
Posted: February 5th, 2008 at 10:29 am →
I am curious to see the results of the clinical trials on a larger population of patients. When will they release this data?
Kathy J. Shattler, M.S.,RD responds:
Posted: February 6th, 2008 at 3:24 am →
Hello! The best way to find out the timeline on the study is to contact the pharmaceutical company directly at http://www.bionovo.com/. They can be contacted by phone, which you can find on their website under ‘contact us’ or by emailing them directly at info@bionovo.com. Thank you for your comment and your interest in this exciting study.