Category: Integrative Cancer Support

Our Dr. Kirsten West contributed a write up for the Natural Medicine Journal detailing a clinical trial to assess if the combination of delta tocotrienol and bevacizumab delays the progression of multi-resistant ovarian cancer. Learn how the results show that multiple therapeutic actions and the low toxicity of delta tocotrienol demonstrate synergistic effects with bevacizumab in ovarian cancer. Study: Delta Tocotrienol and Bevacizumab for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Reference Thomsen CB, Andersen RF, Steffensen KD, Adimi P, Jakobsen A. Delta tocotrienol in recurrent ovarian cancer. A phase II trial. Pharmacol Res. 2019;141:392-396. Objective To assess if the combination of delta tocotrienol and bevacizumab delays the progression of multiresistant ovarian cancer. Design Phase II, nonrandomized, single-arm, open-label clinical trial Participants The study included 23 women with advanced-stage, histologically verified endothelial fallopian or peritoneal ovarian cancer that had progressed despite treatment with at least 2 (median of 4) different cytostatic regimens. All patients were platinum-resistant, and more than half had previously progressed while on bevacizumab. Most participants had stage III disease at the time of diagnosis and serous histopathology was the dominant type. All participants were >18 years, had a performance status of 0-2, and had adequate organ function. Study Medication and Dosage Patients...

Vitamin C Vitamin C has long been known for its effects on immune stimulation and function. Because of vitamin C's role in maintaining normal immune function, many people use it for treating and preventing infectious conditions such as the common cold. Activity of several major immune cells and the messengers they produce seem to be increased by vitamin C.  An additional viewpoint is that vitamin C serves as an antioxidant and increased intake from either foods or dietary supplements may promote good health. Cancer chemoprevention studies i.e., studies that have looked at the use of chemical agents, drugs, or food supplements to prevent the development of cancer,  have used this antioxidant rationale to examine any association between decreased tumor incidence and Vitamin C ingestion. Unfortunately, these studies have not revealed tumor reduction with use of ORAL vitamin C. In contrast to this line of investigation, there is also the hypothesis that high doses of intravenous Vitamin C may create a pro-oxidant or “cell-killing” state within tumors and possibly improve quality of life. Evolving research speaks to this hypothesis and the use of vitamin C, intravenously, as a cancer fighter. So far, high dose vitamin C has been tested in phase...

NatureMed Clinic's Dr. Kirsten West contributed a study regarding topical milk thistle for Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome to the Natural Medicine Journal. Forty patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal malignancy, including colorectal and esophageal cancers, who had no previous exposure to capecitabine but were scheduled to receive this medication; average age was 60 years and 60% were male. Gastric cancer was the most common malignancy in both the treatment and placebo groups (75% and 60%, respectively). Topical Milk Thistle for Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome Reference Elyasi S, Shojaee FSR, Allahyari A, Karimi G. Topical silymarin administration for prevention of capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2017;31(9):1323-1329. Objective To assess if topical silymarin is active in the prevention of capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome (HFS) Design Pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial Participants Forty patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal malignancy, including colorectal and esophageal cancers, who had no previous exposure to capecitabine but were scheduled to receive this medication; average age was 60 years and 60% were male. Gastric cancer was the most common malignancy in both the treatment and placebo groups (75% and 60%, respectively). Study Medication and Dosage Patients were randomly allocated to either the topical silymarin (treatment) or placebo group. Those...

By Kirsten West ND, Lac, FABNO Like many of you, my thoughts regarding farms (at least in the past) typically transitioned into images of red barns, green pastures, the solitary cow (or two), perhaps some chickens, rows of corn, birds chirping- basically, an overall picture of serenity. In fact, living next to a scene such as this appears quite nice. Most recently, this “farm life” image has been turned on its head with the development of what is now called a CAFO. Quite frankly, not only would I not want one next door but I would prefer to be several miles (at least 60) away from one. First, let us start with what CAFO means. A CAFO stands for a Concentrated Animal Farming Operation. You may ask what this has to do with health and most importantly why, I am writing about it… hold on to your seats. CAFOs are multiplying across the country. They are considered a specific type of large-scale industrial agricultural facility that raises animals in high density for the consumption of animal products (meat, eggs, or milk). Notably, there is typically little to no horticulture. It has been argued that this is the future of farming...

Denise Clark ND, RND As the days get longer and we experience more sunny days its time to protect our skin from the damaging effects of intense sun exposure in Colorado. A recently published study found that our eating habits could affect aging and the prevention of skin cancer. A study in mice from the O'Donnell Brain Institute and UC Irvine shows that eating at abnormal times disrupts the biological clock of the skin, including the daytime potency of an enzyme that protects against the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. The finding indicates that people who eat late at night may be more vulnerable to sunburn and longer-term effects such as skin aging and skin cancer. The study showed that mice given food only during the day -- an abnormal eating time for the otherwise nocturnal animals -- sustained more skin damage when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light during the day than during the night. This outcome occurred, at least in part, because an enzyme that repairs UV-damaged skin -- xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XPA) -- shifted its daily cycle to be less active in the day. Mice that fed only during their usual evening times did not show altered...