Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive type of cancer with a poor prognosis. Sadly, the survival rate after five years is still less than 9%, even with many efforts to find better treatments.
The cancer cells in pancreatic cancer behave differently when it comes to getting energy and nutrients for their growth. They use unique ways to process glucose, amino acids, and lipids, which helps them grow and spread quickly.
Moreover, these cancer cells communicate with their surroundings, which supports their growth even more.
Recent studies have shown that changes in how cancer cells use energy can play a significant role in the development, treatment, and outlook of pancreatic cancer. This variation means it’s crucial to understand and target these changes to improve research and treatment for this type of cancer.
While metabolic approaches show promise, it’s important to consider a range of treatment options for pancreatic cancer. For a comprehensive overview of various alternative treatments, see our article on Best Alternative Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer.
Potential Benefits of Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Metabolism
- By focusing on the metabolic pathways disrupted in pancreatic cancer cells, it might be feasible to hinder their growth and prevent them from increasing.
- Modulating pancreatic metabolism can enhance cancer cells’ sensitivity to chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments. This addition could lead to improved treatment outcomes and potentially reduce the development of treatment resistance.
- Targeting pancreatic metabolism can disrupt the tumor microenvironment, which is essential for cancer progression. By altering metabolism, it may be possible to disrupt the favorable conditions supporting tumor growth and the spread of cancer cells to other body parts.
Targeting pancreatic metabolism can be combined with other treatment strategies, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapies, to create synergistic effects and improve overall treatment efficacy.
Top Researched Repurposed Medications for Treating Pancreatic Cancer
Mebendazole
Mebendazole, a medication commonly used to treat parasitic worm infections, has shown potential as an anticancer agent, including in treating pancreatic cancer. Using early models of pancreatic cancer, treatment with mebendazole has resulted in less inflammation and decreased dysplasia, with the later-stage model additionally showing a reduced tumor burden, less advanced tumors, and a reduction of metastasis.
Statins
Statins are a medication commonly used to lower cholesterol levels, which have shown great promise in treating many types of cancer.
Specifically regarding pancreatic cancer, statins have a specific way of reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines and affecting the expression of genes involved in inflammation and the growth of new blood vessels. This mechanism may help prevent the development of cancer. Statins can inhibit the protein modification process, which is vital for cancer cell growth and survival.
Additionally, statins show great promise in reducing pancreatic cancer in patients who suffer from chronic pancreatitis. A recently published Danish case–cohort study of approximately 4,800 chronic pancreatitis patients suggested that statin use was associated with an 80% reduction in pancreatic cancer risk.
Metformin
Metformin, a medication used for diabetes, can also help treat pancreatic cancer. It has properties that can inhibit cancer cell growth and cause death. Metformin affects how cancer cells use energy and interferes with pathways promoting tumor growth. It can also make pancreatic cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy, making the treatment more effective.
Metformin appears to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients already taking the medicine.
Doxycycline
Doxycycline is an antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial and atypical infections such as Lymes, malaria, and rickettsial diseases. For pancreatic cancer, doxycycline has an entirely different use. It relates to a protein called PAR1 which makes pancreatic cancer cells spread aggressively. By using doxycycline, researchers could stop the cells from growing and improve the effectiveness of other treatments.
Other Potential Metabolic Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer
Several metabolic therapies have opportunities for their potential to help treat pancreatic cancer. Here are a few that are showing great potential:
- Keto Diet – The ketogenic diet is unique, focusing on high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods with large amounts of protein. In laboratory experiments, the ketogenic diet decreased glucose, the primary fuel for cancer cells, suggesting the diet helped starve cancer. In addition, this diet elevated ketone bodies produced by the liver, which put additional stress on the cancer cells. Further studies suggest that the ketogenic diet and standard therapies like chemotherapy or radiation therapy may enhance their effectiveness and improve treatment outcomes.
- Caloric Restriction/Fasting – It has been explored as a possible metabolic approach for treating cancer. By reducing levels of growth factors and hormones like insulin and insulin-like growth factor, both linked to cancer cell growth, caloric restriction may inhibit tumor growth. Preclinical studies indicate that it can also improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.
- Exercise – A consistent, physician-approved fitness regimen can improve treatment outcomes, enhance physical function, reduce fatigue, boost well-being, and potentially impact immune function. In pancreatic cancer, exercise may help improve the immune system’s ability to recognize and target cancer cells, potentially aiding the body’s defense against the disease. Maintaining a healthy weight through exercise is also beneficial to assist in the fight against the disease.
- Drugs that target glycolysis: Inhibiting the glycolytic pathway, which is responsible for glucose metabolism, can potentially hinder the energy supply to cancer cells. Drugs that target glycolysis enzymes or glucose transporters are interesting as potential therapies.
Receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be a terrifying and heartbreaking ordeal. Nevertheless, hope looms on the horizon with groundbreaking research surging forward toward successful treatment options. As conventional medicine struggles to keep pace with the newest science, pancreatic cancer patients may not have access to all choices that could make a significant difference in their lives.
How to Start a Pancreatic Cancer Metabolic Optimization Program
The 3-months metabolic program, led by Dr. Meakin MD, an integrative oncologist, will provide an integrative approach to enhance your overall well-being and quality of life.
Dr. Meakin would prescribe the safe and most beneficial medications for your specific needs.
For more information about this program (available in 45 states), click here>>.
