New research reported online in the journal Cancer Research concluded that an active ingredient, indirubin, found in a traditional Chinese herbal remedy known as Dang Gui Long Hui Wan may be useful in the treatment of brain tumors. The component blocks migration of glioblastoma cells to other areas of the brain and \also the migration of endothelial cells preventing the formation of new blood vessels needed by the tumor to grow.
Using multiple glioblastoma cell lines and two animal models three derivatives of indirubin were examined. Findings showed transplanting glioblastoma cells into one brain hemisphere of mice increased survival significantly longer than controls and showed no migration of tumor cells to the other hemisphere. In another study, the migration of tumor cells were reduced by 40% in treated mice verses controls.
Indirubins also reduced endothelial-cell migration by 52 to 41 percent compared to untreated controls and a lower density of blood vessels and new blood vessel growth was reduced up to three-fold in intracranial tumors, depending upon the tumor-cell line. Thus, the researchers concluded that “findings suggest that indirubins reduce tumor invasion and tumor vasculature because of their antimigratory effects on both tumors and endothelial cells.”

Research published in the June 20 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that brain cancer patients who exercise live significantly longer than sedentary patients. Two hundred forty three patients with advanced recurrent lethal brain malignancies at Duke were enrolled in the study. Those diagnoses with this type of cancer usually have a median life expectancy of less than 6 months. In the study those who reported regular brisk exercise defined as the equivalent of an energetic walk for thirty minutes five days a week lived a median 21.84 months compared to 13.03 months for those who were most sedentary.

There has long been a debate about the use of cell phones and the development of brain and other types of tumors and many studies in the past have concluded that there is an association. The most recent study was reported in the November/December issue of the Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography . In this report the researchers conducted an in-depth analysis of research on the risk of wireless phones (cell and home cordless Phones). A review of the past ten years or longer produced 11 published studies on long term use of cell phones and the risk of brain tumors. This review of studies produced conflicting results. One of the largest studies concluded that cell phone use did not increase the risk of brain tumors. Two flaws were identified in this study: it was largely funded by the wireless communications industry that may have caused a bias , and it was of a short duration.

A series of independent studies carried out by a cancer specialist in Sweden found different results. He found that the more hours of cellular phone use over a longer period of time (ten years or longer) the higher the risk of developing brain tumors. He also found the level of power from the wireless phone, the years since beginning use, the total exposure, and younger age all increased the risk of developing brain tumors.

Based upon an analysis of all studies the researchers concluded “long term cell phone usage can approximately double the risk of developing a glioma or acoustic neuroma in the more exposed brain hemisphere.” Although it is unclear how this exposure can increase the risk of brain cancer studies have shown that the cell signal is absorbed up to 2 inches in the adult skull. More research is needed to validate these findings.

Research from Johns Hopkins University published online in the November 15 issue of Cancer Research and as a news alert from Johns Hopkins (see link below) “concluded that researchers have identified a compound that might be used to starve cancer cells of their sugar-based building blocks.” Although not tested on humans or animals yet, the compound, a glutaminase inhibitor called BPTES, has been tested on lab cultured sugar-hungry brain cancer cells. In their research they used BPTES on cells engineered to have IDHI mutations that seem to convert cell building blocks to nutrients that feed cancer cells. Results show that cancer cells growth was reduced by 30%. Thus, it did not completely stop cancer cell growth. but slowed its progress. Further research is planned to refine BPTES and to try it with other types of cancer cells. Additional information is available at:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/compound_that_blocks_sugar_pathway_slows_cancer-

Some parvoviruses have been shown to kill tumor cells without harming healthy tissue and have been tested previously in cancer therapy.

Using a particular parvovirus, the parvovirus H-1, researchers at the German Cancer Research Center studied with rats who received brain tumor cells by implantation. When the brain tumors reached a specific size the rodents were given parvoviruses either by direct injection into the tumor or into the blood stream. In rodents injected directly into the tumor the tumor shrank visibly after three days and disappeared in eight of the 12 rodents treated. They survived without any symptoms. The untreated rodent controls had severe disease symptoms within 3 weeks following the tumor implantation.
In the rodents who received injections into the blood stream six of nine rodents showed regression of the tumor and all treated rodents survived for one year with no signs of side effects.
There was no infection-related damage in the nervous tissue surrounding the tumor in the treated rodents and the virus did not spread to the whole organism. Parvovirus DNA was found in all organs after several days following transfer but that only lasted for a short time. Despite the viruses infecting healthy tissue they did not reproduce as they did in the tumor tissue where they reproduced and the viral protein production was detected. In rats that did not have tumors, the virus did not reproduce. The researchers concluded that the presence of cancer cells seem to be necessary for the parvovirus to reproduce. They believe these viruses are suitable for use in cancer treatment. More information is available at:
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (2010, May 5) Viruses effective against brain cancer in animals. Human trials set to start. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 9, 2010., from http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2010/05/100504095106.htm

On Saturday, July 18, I interviewed 5 cancer survivors pictured from left to right–Aurea McGarry, Linda Wilson, Regina Leeds, Les Thiele, and Lori Kuban .

Aurea is a 9 year Non Hodskins Lymphoma survivor who won the Mrs. U.S. Beauty of Georgia Contest in 2003 and the title of Most Inspirational Contestant. She is the creator, producer and host of the television show Live Your Legacy with Aurea McGarry. Earlier she worked on the soap opera Edge of Night. She discusses her experiences with cancer in her book I Won’t Survive, I’ll Thrive. More information is available at: www.liveyourlegacytv.com

Linda had a tumor of the kidney and used alternative interventions. She and her husband have owned a rare and used book business for 25 years. She has degrees in English Literature, and Respiratory Therapy, and a Masters in Theology. She is an ordained Episcopal Minister but currently works with the Catholic Apolistic Church. She writes when she has time and has a novel placed with an agent currently. She can be reached at: littlegidding@hughes.net

Regina is a 7 year survivor of third stage uterine cancer who used traditional and alternative interventions. She is a professional organizer and authored six books including the New York Times best seller One Year to an Organized Life. More information is available at www.reginaleeds.com

Les is a 3 time ovarian cancer survivor who used complementary interventions. She talks with cancer patients several times a week and is in the process of putting up a web site. She can be reached at: (617) 834-1597.

Lori is a brain tumor survivor who used traditional and alternative interventions. She has a baccalaureate and masters degree and is a research librarian. She is also a cancer and health care advocate who speaks and provides workshops for cancer survivors and professionals including being a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. She also gives radio and television interviews. More information is available at www.cancerologist.com

The interviews for this show follow.