Preventing Tumor Spread (Angiogenesis, Invasion, and Metastasis)

pic: angiogenesis-cancer cells release angiogenic growth factors that diffuse into the nearby tissues.this substance stimulate the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) which serve as medium of transport for supplying nutrients etc to the growing cancer cells (jahatnya!!).There is evidence that angiogenesis is initiated because cells in the interior of the tumour become starved of oxygen and the nutrients they need to continue growing.

note: good point here. if we want to arrest the formation of new vessels and spread of cancer, make sure we have good oxygen supply (by exercise, breathing exercise, tai chi etc )

Natural strategies that arrest the spread of tumors include:

-Alpha tocopherol
-Curcumin
-Green tea
-Pomegranate extracts
-Soy (genistein).

Alpha-Tocopherol supplementation, which provides the biological activity of vitamin E, reduces levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a tumor growth factor that plays a critical role in the formation of new blood vessels by cancer cells and subsequent tumor invasion of other organs (Woodson K et al 2002). Indeed, levels of this cancer growth factor decreased by 11 percent in the supplemented group but increased by 10 percent in the non-supplemented group (Woodson K et al 2002).

Curcumin ('kunyit') is known to arrest the growth of established cancer (Furness MS et al 2005) by interfering with the production of growth factors that cancer cells need to establish new blood vessels and thus invade other organs, a process known as angiogenesis (Arbiser JL et al 1998; Dulak J 2005; Furness MS et al 2005).

Green Tea. Epigallocatechin in green tea has long been known to have cancer-preventive properties (Cooper R et al 2005). Epigallocatechin prevents cancer cells from forming new blood vessels and thereby spreading to other organs (Jung YD et al 2001).

Pomegranate Extract ('buah delima). A laboratory study has demonstrated that extracts of the pomegranate fruit can prevent human prostate cancer cells from invading new tissues (Albrecht M et al 2004).

Soy (Genistein). Present in soy, genistein prevents any cancer cells that persist after surgery from invading new organs and spreading (Vantyghem SA et al 2005). This potential to arrest the spread of cancer is linked to genistein’s ability to reduce production of the growth factor VEGF, a prerequisite for cancer spread and invasion (Ravindranath MH et al 2004).

Enhancing the Immune System
A range of CAM therapies have been shown to boost immune function in cancer patients. These include:

-Fermented wheat germ
-Garlic
-Herbal medicines
-Mushroom extracts
-Immunonutrition
-Melatonin
-Probiotic bacteria
-Relaxation techniques
-Vitamin E.

Fermented Wheat Germ. Neutropenia, a condition characterized by low numbers of white blood cells known as neutrophils, is a complication of chemotherapy that leaves patients dangerously susceptible to infections (Mego M et al 2005). Supplementing with fermented wheat germ extract during conventional treatment reduces the occurrence of neutropenia (Garami M et al 2004).

Garlic supplementation boosts immune function in cancer patients (Patya M et al 2004) by improving the function of natural killer cells and lymphocytes (Hassan ZM et al 2003; Patya M et al 2004; Tang Z et al 1997).

Herbal Medicines such as echinacea, ginseng, and astragalus strengthen the immune system and may be beneficial to cancer patients (Block KI et al 2003; Suh SO et al 2002). Indeed, red ginseng boosts the immune system of gastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy after surgery (Suh SO et al 2002). Patients taking red ginseng had significantly higher overall survival (76 percent) than non-supplementing subjects (39 percent) at five years (Suh SO et al 2002).

Mushroom Extracts increase the activity of natural killer cells in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (Ahn WS et al 2004). A Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract known as ganopoly (1800 mg, three times daily before meals for 12 weeks) boosted natural killer cell numbers in advanced-stage cancer patients (Gao Y et al 2003).

Immunonutrition. Patients who undergo surgery to remove a tumor mass often suffer depressed immune systems following surgery, which slows their recovery and leaves them vulnerable to infection (Ates E et al 2004). Different forms of nutrition designed to boost the immune system assist the recovery of cancer patients after surgery (Ates E et al 2004; Braga M et al 2002; Song JX et al 2002). For example, patients administered nutrients containing fatty acids (with the aid of a feeding tube directly into the stomach) have a more rapid recovery of immune cell numbers (Ates E et al 2004). Oral supplements enriched with arginine and omega-3 fatty acids improved immune recovery and reduced infection rates (Braga M et al 2002; Song JX et al 2002).

Melatonin is a hormone with immune regulatory activities. Most cancer patients have low levels of melatonin (Bartsch C et al 1999). Melatonin supplements (10 mg a day) improve immune function in patients suffering from a variety of cancers, including gastric, renal, prostate, and bladder cancers, without any apparent adverse effects (Neri B et al 1998). Clinical studies support melatonin’s value, demonstrating that supplements of 20 mg a day can improve immune function in cancer patients, predominantly by enhancing the immunity driven by the two chief anti-tumor messengers, interleukin-2 and interleukin-12 (Lissoni P 2000, 2002).

Probiotic Bacteria. When cancer patients with neutropenia (low neutrophil counts) exhibit symptoms of infection such as fever, the condition of neutropenia is referred to as febrile neutropenia (Mego M et al 2005). The movement of bacteria through the intestinal lining is partly responsible for febrile neutropenia (Mego M et al 2005). Interestingly, scientists have demonstrated that colonizing the intestine with friendly probiotic bacteria reduced (by virtue of competition) infection from febrile neutropenia-causing bacteria (Mego M et al 2005).

Relaxation Techniques. Perhaps not surprisingly, clinical studies have now shown that humor and laughter have a positive effect on the immune system, characterized by increased numbers of natural killer cells (Bennett MP et al 2003; Berk LS et al 2001; Christie W et al 2005; Takahashi K et al 2001).
Other techniques such as massage and meditation that are designed to foster relaxation also improve immune system function in cancer patients (Hernandez-Reif M et al 2004, 2005; Hidderley M et al 2004). In fact, breast cancer patients participating in a massage therapy program had increased numbers of natural killer cells and lymphocytes (Hernandez-Reif M et al 2004, 2005).

Vitamin E. Short-term supplementation with high-dose (750 mg) vitamin E increases both the number and activity of lymphocytes in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (Malmberg KJ et al 2002). In addition, supplementation with vitamin E during chemotherapy reduces the loss of white blood cells (neutropenia) that is associated with chemotherapy (Branda RF et al 2004).

-from Life Extension articles