Lung Cancer Treatment Options: A Comprehensive Guide to Alternative and Integrative Therapies

While conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation form the foundation of lung cancer care, many individuals seek complimentary approaches to enhance their well-being and potentially support their treatment journey. This section delves into a variety of integrative and alternative approaches that may enhance your overall wellness and potentially work in conjunction with your standard treatments.

Let’s dive in:

Regional Chemotherapy (RCT):

Regional chemotherapy with isolated lung perfusion (ILP) is an innovative approach for treating advanced lung cancer, delivering high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to the tumor site while minimizing systemic side effects. This technique involves a complex surgical procedure where the lung's circulatory system is temporarily isolated from the rest of the body.

How ILP is Administered:

• The pulmonary artery and veins of the affected lung (or both lungs) are surgically connected to an external circuit, creating a closed loop.
• High doses of chemotherapy are then circulated directly through the isolated lung tissue, bathing the tumor in a concentrated drug solution.
• This delivery allows for significantly higher drug concentrations within the tumor compared to traditional systemic chemotherapy.

ILP is primarily considered for patients with advanced lung cancer, particularly unresectable tumors confined to the chest or limited lung metastases. While promising for improving local drug delivery and potentially enhancing treatment effectiveness, especially when combined with other therapies like radiation, clinical results have been mixed, and further research is needed to optimize its use and identify ideal candidates.

ILP is a highly specialized procedure requiring a multidisciplinary team and specialized equipment found mainly in large academic medical centers or dedicated cancer centers. While specific centers aren't listed in the provided text, institutions with expertise in regional perfusion therapies and advanced lung cancer surgery may offer this option.

Autologous Therapy - NK Cell: Harnessing Your Immune System

Autologous NK cell therapy is an innovative immunotherapy approach for treating lung cancer that utilizes a patient's own natural killer (NK) cells to fight the disease. NK cells are a crucial part of the innate immune system with the ability to directly kill tumor cells.

How Autologous NK Cell Therapy is Administered:

• Collection: NK cells are extracted from the patient's peripheral blood through a process called leukapheresis.
• Expansion and Activation: In a specialized laboratory, these collected NK cells are expanded to increase their numbers and activated to enhance their cancer-fighting abilities. This often involves using specific cytokines.
• Reinfusion: The expanded and activated NK cells are then reinfused back into the patient's bloodstream.

The goal of this therapy is to boost the patient's immune system to recognize and eliminate lung cancer cells. Using the patient's own cells minimizes the risk of graft-versus-host disease.

Recent clinical trials, often combining autologous NK cells with other therapies like PD-1 inhibitors, have shown promising antitumor activity in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, including those who have failed prior treatments. While generally safe, limitations include potential for impaired function of the patient's NK cells and challenges in achieving sustained effectiveness. The complex and costly nature of the process can also limit its accessibility.

If you’re interested in finding out more about clinics who offer Autologous Therapy please get in touch with us 👉 here.

Mistletoe Therapy: A Complementary Approach

Extracts derived from the European white-berried mistletoe (Viscum album), is gaining attention as a complementary treatment for cancer, particularly when used alongside traditional therapies like chemotherapy. 

These extracts, containing active compounds like mistletoe lectins and viscotoxins, are typically administered via subcutaneous injection (under the skin), usually 2-3 times a week, and in many cases, this can be done at home. While less common, other routes like intravenous infusion or direct injection into the tumor are sometimes used under specialist supervision.

Recent research has explored mistletoe therapy alongside conventional treatments for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). A 2019 study showed promising results when Iscador-M was added to chemotherapy, with patients experiencing a median survival of 17 months compared to 8 months with chemotherapy alone. The one-year survival rate was also significantly higher in the mistletoe group. While a comprehensive review suggests more rigorous research is needed to confirm these benefits, other studies indicate mistletoe may improve quality of life and reduce side effects from conventional treatments.

The potential benefits of mistletoe therapy are thought to stem from its ability to modulate the immune system, activating key cells like NK cells and T cells to fight cancer. It may also have direct anti-tumor effects by inducing cancer cell death and inhibiting their growth. Additionally, some evidence suggests it can protect healthy cells during chemotherapy.

It's crucial to discuss mistletoe therapy with your oncologist to determine if it's a suitable option for your individual situation and to receive proper guidance on administration, especially if considering administering it at home.

If you’re interested in finding out more about clinics who offer mistletoe therapy please get in touch with us 👉 here.

Researchers are increasingly investigating whether these existing medications can work synergistically with our current standard lung cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapies. 

The idea is to create more powerful and multi-faceted treatment strategies that can overcome resistance and improve outcomes for a wider range of patients.

It's crucial to emphasize that while some oncologists may prescribe these medications, this should always occur within a carefully monitored treatment plan. Repurposed medications are not a replacement for standard lung cancer therapies and should be used under the guidance of a qualified oncologist.

Let's take a more comprehensive look at some of the repurposed medications that are generating significant interest in lung cancer research:

Fenbendazole in Lung Cancer: Exploring a Veterinary Drug's Potential

If you've heard about Fenbendazole, you've likely heard about Joe Tippens. 

He was diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer, and introduced fenbendazole into his protocol, now often referred to as the Joe Tippens protocol, and reports being cancer-free today. You can read other fenben success stories here. 

Preclinical studies have demonstrated that fenbendazole can inhibit the growth of lung cancer cell lines in laboratory settings and suppress tumor growth in animal models. Researchers are investigating the mechanisms by which fenbendazole may exert these effects, including:

• Disruption of microtubule function
• Interference with glucose metabolism
• Activation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein

Fenbendazole is not currently approved for human use as a cancer treatment. Further clinical research is necessary to establish its safety and efficacy in lung cancer patients. 

If you are considering incorporating fenbendazole into your lung cancer treatment plan, and need a personalized protocol consultation get in touch with us here. One of our integrative nurses will be in touch with you, where they will provide you with guidance and help you weigh the potential benefits and risks in the context of your individual situation.

Mebendazole in Lung Cancer: Repurposing a Deworming Medication

Mebendazole, a common antiparasitic drug, is being explored as a repurposed treatment for lung cancer. Preclinical studies indicate it inhibits lung cancer growth and spread through several key actions:

• Disrupting Microtubules: Interferes with cell division.
• Generating ROS: Induces damaging reactive oxygen species in cancer cells.
• Inhibiting Angiogenesis: Reduces blood supply to tumors.
• Interfering with Signaling Pathways: Disrupts cancer growth signals.

The promise lies in its preclinical efficacy and known safety profile at lower doses, potentially accelerating its development for cancer.  While lab and animal studies are positive, clinical trials in lung cancer patients are necessary to confirm its effectiveness and safety. Mebendazole's multi-pronged approach offers a compelling avenue for further research in lung cancer therapy.

Metformin: Investigating a Diabetes Drug's Role in Lung Cancer Treatment

Metformin, is a medication commonly prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes, which is showing potential benefit in treating lung cancer. Early research suggests that metformin might interfere with the way lung cancer cells grow and develop, potentially slowing down the progression of the disease, and enhancing the effectiveness of standard treatments like radiation and targeted therapies.

Scientists have been exploring how metformin interacts with lung cancer cells, and initial findings point to: 

• Impact on Cancer Cells: Metformin appears to disrupt lung cancer cell growth by activating a key energy regulator and interfering with a major cell growth pathway, potentially hindering cancer cell multiplication.
• Potential to Enhance Other Treatments: Research is exploring if metformin can make lung tumors more sensitive to radiation therapy and improve the effectiveness of existing lung cancer treatments like targeted therapies, especially when cancer becomes resistant.

While metformin is not yet a routine treatment for lung cancer, the ongoing research and its established safety profile make it an exciting area of study.  The hope is that future research will clearly define its role and how it can be best integrated into lung cancer treatment strategies to benefit patients.

Doxycycline in Lung Cancer: Investigating an Antibiotic's Anti-Cancer Effects 

Doxycycline, a widely prescribed antibiotic, is attracting attention for its potential to be repurposed in the fight against lung cancer. Preclinical research suggests that doxycycline can interfere with various aspects of lung cancer development and progression. Including:

• Inhibiting Growth and Spread: Laboratory studies have demonstrated that doxycycline can effectively reduce the growth, migration, and invasive capabilities of lung cancer cells.
• Inducing Cell Death and Cell Cycle Arrest: Doxycycline has also been shown to trigger cell death (apoptosis) and halt the cell division cycle in lung cancer cells.
• Suppressing Tumor Growth in Animal Models: Animal studies have corroborated these findings, indicating that doxycycline can suppress tumor growth and limit the spread of cancer without causing significant weight loss in the animals.

Researchers are exploring several mechanisms through which doxycycline might exert these anti-cancer effects:

• Reversing EMT: It may reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that allows cancer cells to become more mobile and invasive.
• Reducing Inflammation: Doxycycline could reduce inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, which can otherwise promote cancer growth.
• Inhibiting Cancer-Promoting Proteins: It may interfere with the activity of specific proteins that are involved in cancer progression.
• Disrupting Energy Production: Doxycycline might disrupt energy production within cancer cells, hindering their survival and growth.
• Blocking Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs): It can inhibit enzymes called MMPs, which help cancer cells break down surrounding tissues and spread.

While doxycycline is generally well-tolerated, its use as a direct anti-cancer agent for lung cancer is still under investigation. Current clinical trials are primarily focused on exploring its role in managing the side effects of other cancer treatments rather than evaluating its primary anti-cancer activity. Further research is needed to determine its effectiveness as a lung cancer therapy.

Statins: Exploring Cholesterol Drugs for Broad Anti-Cancer Effects in Lung Cancer

Statins, commonly used to lower cholesterol, are also being studied for their potential to fight lung cancer. Early research, including some clinical trials, suggests these drugs might work through several different ways to attack cancer cells.

Studies indicate that statins can trigger cancer cell death through various processes. They can also interfere with important growth pathways within cancer cells.  One statin, Simvastatin, has even shown promising results in an early clinical trial when used with a targeted lung cancer drug, suggesting statins might help these treatments work better.

Because statins can affect cancer cells in multiple ways, they are an interesting area of research, particularly for using them alongside other treatments or to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer.

The research is not just about finding old drugs that might work, but about understanding how they work at a cellular and molecular level, and how they might be strategically used, particularly in combination, to improve outcomes for patients facing this challenging disease.

In addition to these medical interventions, nutritional support and specific supplements are being explored for their role in lung cancer care.

The Mediterranean and Plant-Based Diets: Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Powerhouses

For lung cancer patients, incorporating lung-healthy foods like apples, beets, pumpkin, tomatoes, and leafy greens into a balanced diet may be beneficial due to their antioxidant and phytochemical content 1 . Maintaining a moderate weight and avoiding foods that may worsen treatment side effects are also generally recommended 2 .

The Ketogenic Diet: Exploring Metabolic Effects

The ketogenic diet, a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, is being investigated for its potential as a supportive therapy in lung cancer treatment . The rationale behind this approach lies in the altered metabolism of cancer cells. By significantly reducing carbohydrate intake, the body enters a state of ketosis, producing ketones for energy instead of glucose. Some research suggests that this metabolic shift may have an antitumor effect by potentially starving glucose-dependent cancer cells. 

Key Nutrients for Lung Cancer

To provide a complete picture, it's essential to understand the standard treatments that form the basis of lung cancer care.

When it comes to tackling lung cancer, doctors have a range of tools at their disposal, and the best approach depends heavily on the stage of the disease, the patient's overall health, and specific characteristics of the tumor. Here's a breakdown of the standard treatments you might encounter:

• Surgery: For those diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, surgery is often the first line of defense. Think of it as a targeted strike to remove the tumor before it has a chance to spread. This can involve a lobectomy (removing a lobe of the lung) or, in some cases, a pneumonectomy (removing an entire lung). The goal is complete removal of the cancerous tissue. This is not always an option, and requires patients to be healthy enough to undergo major surgery.
• Chemotherapy: Uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. It's often used for more advanced lung cancer, where the disease may have spread, or in combination with other treatments like surgery or radiation. While effective, chemotherapy can have side effects, as it also affects healthy cells. However, modern medicine continues to improve ways to manage these side effects.
• Radiation Therapy:  Uses high-energy beams, like X-rays, to precisely target and destroy cancer cells. It can be used to shrink tumors before surgery, after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, or to relieve symptoms like pain or breathing difficulties. This can be a very effective way to target tumors within the lung.
• Targeted Therapy: Is like using a smart bomb, it focuses on specific genetic mutations within the lung cancer cells, like EGFR or ALK mutations.By targeting these mutations, the drugs can effectively block cancer growth while minimizing damage to healthy cells. This is a big area of advancement in lung cancer treatment.
• Immunotherapy: Is a relatively new and exciting approach that helps your own immune system recognize and attack lung cancer cells. Drugs like PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors work by taking the brakes off your immune system, allowing it to fight cancer more effectively. Immunotherapy has shown great promise, especially for certain types of lung cancer. It's important to remember that lung cancer treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Your oncologist will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your individual needs and the characteristics of your cancer.

The stage of lung cancer at diagnosis is a primary factor in determining the appropriate treatment strategy and predicting outcomes.

Lung cancer staging is a way of describing the extent of the cancer in the body. It's based on the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to distant organs.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 80-85% of all cases. NSCLC is staged using the TNM system, which stands for Tumor, Node, and Metastasis.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a less common but more aggressive type of lung cancer. SCLC is typically staged as either limited or extensive stage.

Here's a breakdown of the stages for each type:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Stages:

The TNM system is used to determine the stage of NSCLC. It considers three main factors:

• T (Tumor): The size and location of the primary tumor.
• N (Node): Whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• M (Metastasis): Whether the cancer has spread to distant organs.

Based on the TNM classification, NSCLC is categorized into the following stages:

It's important to understand that survival rates are estimates based on large groups of people diagnosed in the past and may not predict the outcome for any individual. They are often given as 5-year survival rates, which is the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years after being diagnosed.

Here's a general overview of 5-year survival rates based on stage at diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC):

Heal Navigator aims to connect individuals with clinics that meet certain standards of care and offer a range of treatment options; 

It’s crucial to conduct your own research and consult with your oncologist to determine the best treatment plan for your specific situation. The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.