A study presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research concluded that a low intake of lycopene in the diet may be a risk factor for lung cancer. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and is most readily found in tomatoes.

In the study, researchers collected blood samples from 93 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and matched with 102 controls. The blood samples were tested for levels of micronutrients that included retinol, lycopene, and Beta-carotene. The found significant differences in the two groups in the level of lycopene, that is, there was much lower levels in the lung cancer patients.
After adjusting for age, race, gender, drinking and smoking habits, use of vitamin supplements, exposure at work, and the season, they found that the lung cancer group who had the lowest levels of lycopene had an almost a threefold increased risk of lung cancer than the group with the highest level of lycopene. In addition, when evaluating current smokers they found that those with the lowest levels of lycopene had four times the risk of lung cancer than those with the highest levels. The researchers concluded that although their results are preliminary they add to the growing body of research that shows a relationship between lycopene and cancer risks.

A research report in the journal Clinical Cancer Research reported finding genetically abnormal cells in blood of non-small cell lung cancer patients that match abnormal cells found in tumor cells and these increase as the disease progresses. Lung cancer patients also had many more of these circulating in the blood than in the blood of closely matched controls. The researchers believe further research will show that these circulating abnormal cells are circulating non-small cell lung cancer cells. They said “Blood tests of these circulating tumor cells could be used to diagnose lung cancer earlier, monitor response to therapy and detect residual disease in patients after treatment.” To detect the abnormal cells the researchers used a technique called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and believe this is the first time this technique has been used this way.
Using 12 biomarker probes that target aberrations previously connected to lung cancer they analyzed 59 cases of non-small cell lung cancer and 24 controls including smokers and non-smokers. Findings showed 1) a highly significant difference in the average number of abnormal cells in the blood of cases and controls. 2) abnormal cells were significantly associated with the stage of the disease with cells increasing as the disease progressed. 3) Eight of the biomarkers had a strong overall correlation between the circulating abnormal cells and tumors. More information can be found in the above named journal.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science explained why asbestos causes cancer. The researchers looked at the paradox of how asbestos fibers that kill cells can cause cancer when dead cells should not grow to form tumors. Findings show that when asbestos kills cells, it induces a process called ‘programmed cell necrosis” releasing a molecule called high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). This starts an inflammatory process causing the release of mutagens and factors that promote tumor growth.
The researchers found that patients exposed to asbestos had elevated levels of HMGB1 in their blood. Thus, it may be possible to identify those with asbestos by simple HMGB1 blood tests and targeting these individuals for prevention and treatment.
The researchers are interesting in determining whether interfering with the inflammatory reaction caused by asbestos and HMGB1 can decrease the cancer incidence of cohorts exposed to asbestos. They also wonder if taking an aspirin or similar drug that stops inflammation will prevent mesothelioma. More research is planned to test this hypothesis.

Researchers publishing in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that those with higher levels of vitamin B6 and the essential amino acid methionine that is found in most protein had a lower risk of lung cancer including current or former smokers. The study analyzed blood samples from 385,747 participants between 1992 and 2000 and by 2006, 899 lung cancer cases were identified. These were matched by country, sex, date of birth, and date of blood collection with 1,770 control participants.
After analyzing the incidence rate of lung cancer within the total cohort, the researchers found a lower risk of lung cancer among those with higher levels of vitamin B6 (comparing the fourth vs first quartile of B6 levels) and also with higher levels of methionine. These same results were seen in those who were never, former or current smokers. The researchers concluded “results suggest that above median serum measures of both B6 and methionine, assessed on average 5 years prior to disease onset, are associated with a reduction of at least 50 percent on the risk of developing lung cancer. An additional association for serum levels of folate was present that when combined with B6 and methionine, was associated with a two-thirds lower risk of lung cancer.”

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on May 26 concluded that shark cartilage showed no benefit for advanced non-small cell lung cancer when combined with chemotherapy and radiation. In this Phase III study 379 newly diagnosed untreated Stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients from 53 sites in the United States and Canada were enrolled between June 2000 and February 2006. Using a randomized design patients were given either shark cartilage or a placebo, both in the form of a liquid. Subjects drank 4 ounces of the extract twice daily during and following standard treatment. With a median 3.7 years follow up, researchers did not find a significant difference between those receiving the shark cartilage (14.4 months) and those receiving a placebo (15.6 months). The lead researcher concluded ” these results demonstrate that AE-941 is not an effective therapeutic agent for lung cancer.”

Dr Francisco Contreras and Dr Arlene Donar will be guests on the Holistic Health Show this week. Its tax time and that is very time consuming for me. Thus, I must repeat a previous show that I hope you will enjoy. On the following show I will resume my back pain series.

Dr Contreras is the Medical Director, President and Chairman of the Oasis of Hope where they have treated over 100,000 cancer patients since opening in 1963 and have an active research program on effective interventions for different cancers. He is recognized internationally as a cancer expert who combines conventional and alternative treatments with emotional and spiritual support. Currently he oversees the treatment of 400 cancer patients annually.

Dr Contreras graduated with honors from the prestigious School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and continued studies at the University of Vienna, Austria where he specialized in surgical oncology and again graduated with honors. He received personal instruction from his father, Dr Ernesto Contreras, who was a pioneer in alternative medicine. Dr Contreras lectures frequently at Universities and Conferences throughout the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. He has authored 12 books on cancer including The Hope of Living Cancer Free, The Coming Cancer Cure, Fighting Cancer 20 different Ways, Dismantling Cancer, and his recently published Hope, Medicine, and Healing. More information is available at www.oasisofhope.com

Dr Donar graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is board certified and licensed as a Naturopathic Physician in Connecticut. Part of her education took place in Switzerland where she worked with patients having cancer and other acute and chronic conditions. She also completed an extern program in New York City at Callen-Lorde community Health Center where she worked with allopathic physicians who specialized in HIV/AID’s health care.

Dr Donar is the former Medical Director of the supplement manufacturers, Heartguardian, located in Princeton, New Jersey. Currently, she is in private practice working with clients with chronic health problems and lectures locally on prevention and treatment of diseases using biological medicine and clinical nutrition. She has written articles for magazines and been a guest on Tribecca Radio. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic physicians. More information is available at www.drdonar.com

I will also talk briefly about my lung cancer experience 36 years ago when I was given 6 months to live by traditional cancer specialists and consequently chose an alternative approach to successful treatment. My focus will demonstrating the holistic approach I used that involved physical, mental and spiritual aspects.

A new study reported online January 12, 2010 in Cancer Research concluded that leafy green vegetables, folate, and some multivitamins may serve as a protective factor against lung cancer in current and former smokers. This first step in understanding a complex association was funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers studied more than 1,100 current and former smokers who submitted sputum specimens and completed questionaires about their dietary intake. Most of the sample (75%) were women. Sputum samples were examined for the methylation status of eight genes that are linked to the increased risk of lung cancer in previous studies. Gene Methylation is believed to be a major mechanism for lung cancer development and progression and also a potential marker for the early detection of lung cancer.

The researchers investigated the association between 21 dietary variables and methylation and found that higher intakes of leafy vegetables and folate were significantly associated with a reduced probability of high methylation. Additional research is needed to validate these findings.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that along with stopping smoking a diet rich in soy lowers the risk of lung cancer in men. In addition to previously know soy isoflavones having anticancer properties in breast and prostate cancer the research now extends soy to lung cancer. The researches believe that men who use soy products may also participate in other activities that lower the risk of lung cancer. Although more studies are needed to comfirm these results their results show that non-smoking men who use soy products are less likely to develop lung cancer.

In an effort to let lung cancer patients avoid invasive diagnostic procedures such as biopsies or cancer producing high radiation procedures such as CT scanning and to develop a more accurate diagnostic procedure researchers are investigating blood tests. In a study presented at the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer Dr Steve Dubinett and colleagues at the Lung Cancer Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles developed a 40-marker panel of potential lung cancer biomarkers based upon investigation of 90 patients with lung cancer and 56 controls believed to be at high risk because of smoking histories. These biomarkers correctly identified those with lung cancer 88% of the time and correctly identified those without lung cancer 79% of the time. Thus, the tests had a good sensitivity and specificity (ability of the test to correctly identify those who had the disease when they had it and to correctly identify those who did not have the disease when they did not have it). Although the researchers said the findings are preliminary and would not be available for several years, the fact that 21 of the 40 biomarker panel were significantly different between patients with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer and the controls is promising.

On Saturday, Dr Carl O Helvie interviewed Dr Francisco Contreras and Dr Arlene Donar on the Holistic Health Show on BBS Radio.
Dr Contreras, M.D. is Director, President and Chairman of the Oasis of Hope and oversees cancer treatment for 400 patients annually. Since the hospital opened over 100,000 patients have been treated. He discusses the holistic complementary treatments offered and the demonstrated higher success rates in his hospital over those experienced in other hospitals. He is the author of 12 books and a free copy of his latest is available by going to his website. More information is available at: www.oasisofhope.com

Dr Arlene Donar is a Naturopathic Physician practicing on 5th Avenue in New York City. Her interesting background was highlighted earlier on this site and can be reviewed at: www.drdonar.com Dr Donar discusses herbs and supplements that can be used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and also to prevent and increase the probability of recovery from cancer.

The interview with these interesting physicians is posted below. I hope you will enjoy it.