The field of oncology is generally based on three treatment areas: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology. However, another area is looming on the horizon, quickly gaining traction as a new and exciting frontier of cancer treatment.
Metabolic oncology, also known as cancer metabolism, focuses on how cancer cells use energy and nutrients differently than normal cells.
Scientists working in metabolic oncology look for targets in these metabolic processes to create treatments that can specifically attack cancer cells while protecting healthy cells.
Leading researchers have discovered innovative ways to prevent diseases from spreading and drastically improve patient outcomes.
Potential Benefits of Targeting Cancer Metabolism
- Specified treatment: By focusing on the unique metabolic characteristics of cancer cells, therapies can be developed to specifically attack cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy brain tissue.
- Slower tumor growth: By disrupting the metabolic pathways that cancer cells rely on for growth and energy, treatments can slow down the growth of brain tumors.
- Improved treatment effectiveness: Combining metabolic therapies with standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can enhance their effectiveness by making cancer cells more responsive to these treatments.
- Overcoming drug resistance: Targeting the metabolic pathways involved in drug resistance can help overcome resistance and improve treatment response.
- Reduced side effects: Targeted metabolic therapies can potentially result in fewer side effects compared to traditional therapies that affect healthy cells as well which improves the overall well-being of patients.
Top Researched Repurposed Medications for Treating Cancer
- Metformin: Usually used for diabetes. In the mid-2000s, researchers found that patients taking this drug had a significantly lowered risk for breast cancer.
- Celebrex: A popular osteoarthritis drug. Celebrex has also been shown to decrease the risk of additional polyp formation in people who’ve had colon cancer in the past.
- ATRA: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has historically been used to treat severe acne. But researchers found that when ATRA is combined with chemotherapy, the drug combination significantly decreases the chance of relapse among leukemia patients in remission.
- Low Dose Naltrexone: Originally used to help narcotic dependents who have stopped taking narcotics to stay drug-free. LDN is showing promising results for people with primary cancer of the bladder, breast, liver, lung, lymph nodes, colon and rectum
- Mebendazole (MBZ)/ Vermox: is a medicine usually used to worm infestation in humans . It has shown promise in lab studies for treating various cancers, like brain, colon, breast, pancreatic, and thyroid cancers. A recent trial found that adults with brain tumors tolerated MBZ well. It works in several ways, like disrupting cell structures, stopping new blood vessel growth, causing cancer cell death, and keeping cancer stem cells from spreading.
- Dipyridamole: The original purpose of Dipyridamole is to prevent the formation of blood clots following a heart valve replacement. Today, it serves as an effective treatment for reducing tumor size, metastasis, progression, and inflammation in cancer patients.
- Statins: Some 40 million Americans take statins to lower their cholesterol. Now, a growing body of evidence suggests these drugs may also protect against colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and several other cancers.
- Ivermectin: Ivermectin tablets are approved by the FDA to treat people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, two conditions caused by parasitic worms. Ivermectin has powerful antitumor effects, including the inhibition of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenic activity, in a variety of cancer cells.
- Doxycycline: is an antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial and atypical infections such as Lymes, malaria, and rickettsial diseases. However, studies have shown Doxycycline may disrupt the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread. Additionally, Doxycycline inhibits enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that cancer cells use to break down surrounding tissues and invade other areas.
Other Potential Metabolic Therapies for Cancer
In addition to repurposed medicines, several other potential metabolic therapies are under investigation to manage cancer.
Keto Diet
The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and protein diet that forces the body to rely on ketones instead of glucose as a predominant energy source. It has shown potential in preclinical and early clinical studies for brain cancer treatment. By altering the metabolism of cancer cells, the ketogenic diet may inhibit tumor growth and enhance the effectiveness of other therapies.
Fasting
Intermittent fasting or prolonged fasting refers to periods of restricted calorie intake or complete food avoidance. Like the Ketogenic diet, fasting triggers the use of ketones as the predominant energy source and may sensitize cancer cells to treatments and potentially slow down tumor growth. Fasting-induced metabolic changes may also favor the protection of normal tissues from therapy side effects and improve tolerance and quality of life impacts to care.
Metabolic inhibitors
Researchers are studying various metabolic inhibitors that target specific pathways involved in cancer cell metabolism. For example, inhibitors of glycolysis (the breakdown of glucose) or inhibitors of particular enzymes involved in metabolic pathways may disrupt cancer cells’ energy production and growth.
Mitochondrial-targeted therapies
Mitochondria play a crucial role in energy production. Mitochondrial-targeted therapies selectively affect the metabolism and function of mitochondria in cancer cells, potentially leading to their demise.
How to Start a Metabolic Optimization
The scientific community is making giant strides forward when targeting cancer metabolism. However, navigating the abundance of information can be overwhelming for those seeking the best treatment options. Traditional doctors may not always be aware of or have access to these metabolic options, which could significantly affect patient outcomes.
Our metabolic program, led by Charles Meakin, MD, an experienced integrative oncologist, offers an approach that focuses on metabolic strategies to complement traditional therapies. Dr. Meakin will carefully prescribe safe and tailored medications and lifestyle strategies for your care.
Get more information about our metabolic program for cancer here>>
