HOW PRACTICING YOGA CAN BE OF GREAT HELP TO CANCER PATIENTS

Yoga is more than an exercise, it is a therapy that favors many health factors; for example, it improves joints and gently mobilizes tissues. Yoga is a form of passive exercise without any kind of stress, on the contrary, it is a moderate and relaxed type of exercise. 

At any time in our lives, tranquility and harmony can be hindered by a disease as difficult as cancer. Many people find yoga a way to bear with this disease. By practicing these exercises, the patient can achieve tranquility and inner peace. Likewise, mobility and muscles are improved. 

Patients who are undergoing some type of cancer oncologic treatment go through great moments of stress, which brings negative consequences for the body. One of these consequences can be emotional and physical imbalance since stress causes lowered defenses that further aggravate the problem. 

One of the main characteristics of yoga is to soft tissues that have been subjected to oncologic surgery, likewise, knowing how to manage the breathing during the yoga exercise produces a balance in the autonomic nervous system, finding the peace and acceptance that is needed to deal with this disease.

The practice of yoga allows, in addition to many other benefits, to achieve empowerment in the situation with this disease, leading the patient to take control of the situation he is presenting. Yoga is an individual practice, but at the same time, it can be done by several people and in the same place to find the calm and balance that is needed to control emotions and make the situation more bearable.

References:

Palacios, S. (2022, 21st October). Yoga para pacientes de cáncer: una forma de 

aliviarles el dolor. abc. https://www.abc.es/bienestar/fitness/abci-yoga-para-pacientes-cancer-forma-aliviarles-dolor-202210182342_noticia.html

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Society of Immunotherapy Meeting 2022 Key Point: Combination Immunotherapy

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Zinc acetate plus intratumoral immunotherapy for prostate cancer

When you’re doing intratumoral immunotherapy, there’s one aspect that really enhances the immune response. It’s what we call a lytic agent or a lytic process. This can be ablations. It can be cryoablation, pulse electrical field or other ablative technologies, or it can actually be an injectable agent itself. Chemotherapy, in some ways will function as a lytic agent. You get tumor killing. That gives us pieces of a dead tumor that the immune system can see, boosting that immune response. But interesting enough, in prostate cancer, it has been shown that zinc is actually toxic to prostate cancer cells. So, when you have a prostate cancer, that’s more infiltrative, so you don’t have afocal area you can target with ablation, but you’ve got scattered out tumor cells. You want to kill this cancer, get pieces, dead pieces. But you don’t want to kill normal tissue. Zinc acetate has been shown to do just that. And don’t take my word for it, look it up and you can see that zinc kills prostate cancer. There’s many things that you can inject into cancer to kill it. And when you combine it with immunotherapy, you get those dead pieces like an ablation. But with immunotherapy, it’s synergy.There’s many, many options. So certainly this can enhance abscopal effect, not only treating the local disease, but the advanced distant disease as well.

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OBESITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERMITTENT FASTING IN THE TREATMENT AGAINST CANCER

It is evident the change in the diet of both adults and children, most of whom are of school age, becoming a major public health problem. Although obesity can also be generated by genetics, it is mostly generated due to poor nutrition.

It has been possible to identify a relationship between obesity and cancer because everything starts with food. Digestive problems occur due to bad eating habits and most of the tumors that appear in organs such as the pancreas, stomach and breast are the result of poor nutrition. There is a paradox in medicine, obesity has a positive point when a person has cancer, since they would have more source of caloric reserves to fight this disease in case it appears.

Looking for a solution to the problem that most people have, nowadays, there is much talk about intermittent fasting and its many benefits for humans, especially in cancer patients. It has been proven that not only with intermittent fasting a caloric deficit is achieved, therefore a loss of weight, but it has also been seen that a change in the composition of the cell membrane is achieved since insulin is a regulatory entity of many metabolic processes as well as being associated with aging. All this happens because if the person has insulin deficiency, the cells also have it. All these benefits of intermittent fasting are not only evident in people with cancer but also in healthy people, it is said that an organism manages to live longer when it performs periods of fasting because it does not keep its insulin in constant movement, that is, the organism does not suffer from insulin spikes.

References:

Nutrición, obesidad y cáncer: genes que favorecen la delgadez y el ayuno como apoyo en tratamiento oncológico. (2022, 28^th November). EITB. https://www.eitb.eus/es/divulgacion/detalle/9029464/nutricion-obesidad-y-cancer-genes-que-favorecen-delgadez-y-ayuno-como-apoyo-en-tratamiento-oncologico/

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DID YOU KNOW THAT intestinal flora (GUT BACTERIA) MAY BE RELATED TO DEPRESSION?

It has been possible to demonstrate, through studies, the type of bacteria that are linked to depression. This advance will probably be of great help for the treatment of this disease.

Hence, some microorganisms that live in the colon produce essential molecules for proper brain function. Researchers from underdeveloped countries have managed to investigate different groups of bacteria, these bacteria are linked in the synthesis of chemical molecules and neurotransmitters that perform important work in the development of mental disorders such as serotonin and glutamate. In the same way, it has been possible to identify that the microbiota is composed and related to different levels of depressive symptoms.

The treatments that exist for the management of depression are not always effective, finding the reason why a person comes to suffer from this disease is still a challenge for science. Moreover, once the origin of this disease is understood, the symptoms presented by patients with depressive syndrome could be prevented and minimized. This is how bacterial microorganisms that cause many diseases including depression are found in the intestine.

Finally, there are studies that seem to have found a relationship between a lack of two intestinal bacteria called coprococcus and dialister, and people suffering from depression. However, we cannot be sure that a lack of these bacteria is necessarily the cause of your depression.

References:

Salabert, E. (2022, 7 diciembre). Confirman el vínculo entre las bacterias intestinales y la depresión. WebConsultas.

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Zinc acetate plus intratumoral immunotherapy for prostate cancer

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NATURAL SUBSTANCES AND SUPPLEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO CANCER PART 2

EGCG EPIGALOCATECHINGALATE

EGCG (epigallocatechygallate) EGCG is a polyphenol usually extracted from green tea. It is a supplement that is frequently used in the treatment of cancer, liver damage has been reported in high doses. Therefore, EGCG should be used with precaution, its use should be discussed with your doctor before consuming or participating in any of these other therapies. Studies have also suggested that the combination of EGCG with epigallocatechingallate or green tea along with curcumin can reduce TFC-B. Additionally, several studies have shown that EGCG can inhibit cancer stem cells.

SULFORAPHAN

Sulforaphane is obtained from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. It is necessary to have an enzymatic production of sulforaphane, which is generated when myrosinase converts glucoraphanin into sulforaphane. It is important to obtain this supplement in activated form, sulforaphane can cause a reduction in CSDMs, which helps the immune response to cancer.

The authors, Liang, et al. published a study in AdvBiolRegul, January 2019, discussing how sulforaphane can be a “double-edged sword” when it comes immunotherapy to cancer cells -T human, which can inhibit its activation and tumor. In general, it is thought that the benefits may outweigh the disadvantages, but we certainly need more studies.

POLIDATINE

Polydatin is a precursor that inhibits G6PD, a major pathway for glucose metabolism, polydatin suppressed cancer proliferation and metastasis. Although there is no direct relationship with the way this may affect the immune response. Also, glucose metabolism generates substantial lactic acid production immune checkpoint metabolic. Moreover, there is evidence that polydatin can reduce the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, which could theoretically lead to increased infiltration of immune cells into the microenvironment tumor

BETA-GLUCAN

Beta-glucans, also known as β-glucans, are polysaccharides that come from the cell walls of oats, barley, mushrooms, yeast, bacteria, and fungi. They bind to immune receptors and can attract immune cells to the tumor environment. Depending on where they are derived, B-glucans can have different effects, it remains unclear which, if any, source of B-glucans is superior.

Theoretically, B-glucans from oats/barley may have an advantage, but this has not yet been fully proven. Regardless of the source, all types of B-glycans appear to have immunostimulatory, having the ability to reduce regulatory cells and increase immunostimulatory cytokines, which may help “raise the temperature” in the tumor microenvironment.

Finally, a cold tumor microenvironment is one of the major reasons for immunotherapy failure, β-glycans have the potential to stimulate the response to immunotherapy.

References:

Williams, J. (2019, 15th October) The Immunotherapy Revolution. Pg 132-134

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NATURAL SUBSTANCES AND SUPPLEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO CANCER

Many cancer patients take large amounts of supplements to help treat their cancer. Patients really have a wide variety of supplements to help them treat this disease.

While researching about alternative and natural cancer treatments, it is common to find people claiming that marijuana cures cancer, however, this has not yet been proven.

There are receptors in the immune system for compounds found in cannabis called cannabinoids which help improve symptoms of cancer, but that does not mean that they help improve cancer.

Additionally, cannabis is a complex mixture containing numerous compounds. It is possible that specific isolates may provide benefits, we still have a lot to learn regarding cannabis products and cancer treatment.

It seems clear that cannabis products can help with certain symptoms related to cancer, but they are more used for palliative purposes than for effective cancer treatment.

SILIBININ

Silibinin, derived from milk thistle, is used as a liver protectant and is commercialized as Legasil. Silibinin is a STAT3 inhibitor, which inhibits the immune response by increasing CSDMs and Tregs. STAT3 also promotes the secretion of FCT-B which, as we have seen, is a powerful suppressor of the immune response against cancer.

6-Gingerol

6-Gingerol is a bioactive ingredient found in raw ginger that inhibits arginase and helps convert M2 (tumor-protecting) macrophages into an M1 (tumor-attacking) phenotype. This is an important area of ​​immune resistance and immune checkpoint failure.

BERBERINE

Berberine is an extract derived from a plant that has been shown to lower blood sugar, studies suggest that berberine may inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. Nevertheless, there are other studies that suggest that berberine may have immunosuppressive effects, which raises concerns in cancer treatment, but other studies have contradicted this finding, so the role of berberine as a potential anticancer agent is not clear.

SELENIUM

Selenium supplementation might help patients who fail PD-1 inhibitors to get them to respond again. There is a lot of information describing the anticancer and cancer prevention properties of selenium, selenium supplement presentations are selenomethionine (SeMet) and, occasionally, selenium-methyl L-selenocysteine.

CURCUMIN

Curcumin is a plant-based compound that is the main active ingredient in the spice known as turmeric. It has often been used as a supplement in cancer treatments. Bhattacharyya, et al. published in J BiolChem in June 2007 their findings that curcumin may protect T-cell-mediated tumor destruction. In addition to the direct effect on tumor growth, curcumin appears to increase the tumor suppressor gene p53 and may enhance the immune response against cancer by reducing TFC-B.

References:

Williams, J. (2019, 15th October) The Immunotherapy Revolution. Pg 128-132

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DRUGS THAT HELP BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM PART 2

Summing up the information mentioned in the previous blog, in addition to the properties that aspirin has, and that help complement cancer treatment, we can find other drugs that could increase the immunity necessary to help fight the cancer disease, one of these is known generically as Sitagliptin, was an effective treatment for diabetes.

Essentially this drug, Sitagliptin, inhibits an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DIPP-4). DPP-4 inhibits gastrointestinal hormones that play a critical role in insulin release; therefore, Sitagliptin has been quite effective in controlling diabetes. DIPP-4 does not only contribute to the treatment of diabetes; however, it also helps tumors survive and grow. It is so effective in helping tumors grow, in fact, that the tumors themselves apparently increase the production of DIPP-4 as a protective mechanism—DIPP-4 is another line of defense for tumors. DIPP-4 breaks down and inactivates cytokines, substances that stimulate the immune system, and helps immune cells migrate to areas of inflammation, including tumors. So, when treating a cancer patient, it helps to raise cytokines and lower DIPP-4. Nowadays, this process has been simulated in the laboratory.

In a study conducted at the Pasteur Institute in France in 2015, the researcher Matthew Arnold and his team found that giving mice sitagliptin orally increased the cytokine CXCL10, which helped attract T-, NK, and dendritic cells. to the areas around the tumor, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. More importantly, sitagliptin inhibited the production of DIPP-4 and when combined with immune checkpoint blockers such as CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 drugs, there was a complete cure in the animal model, i.e. For this reason, this medicine is on the list of medicines among others included in the immunotherapy treatment recommended by Dr. Jason Williams.

References:

 

Williams, J. (2019, 15^th October) The Immunotherapy Revolution. Pg 107-110

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The Immunotherapy Revolution – Audiobook, Chapter 2

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DRUGS THAT HELP BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM PART 1

Some drugs have been discovered and they strengthened immunity in different ways, but they have not been considered as part of the treatment against cancer. Nevertheless, by including some of these drugs as part of a patient’s treatment plan, the chances of fighting cancer were significantly improved.

There are several drugs that have achieved amazing results when they have been incorporated into the treatment of patients, some of these drugs are aspirin, sitagliptin —a drug for the treatment of diabetes), and Cialis —a drug for erectile dysfunction. In addition, there are other drugs approved for uses different than cancer and that manage to enhance the immune response.

In its early days, 2,400 years ago, aspirin was used to treat fevers and pain. Its origins can be traced to the common white willow, whose bark and leaves have been used medicinally by Native Americans, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Greeks since the fifth century BC, when Hippocrates first wrote about it. The bark contains a chemical called salicin, which was chemically isolated in the early 19th century. Unfortunately, the pure chemical also caused serious stomach upsets, so it had a limited use. However, towards the end of the 19th century, while working for Bayer Laboratories, the German chemist Felix Hoffman created a synthetic form of the chemical that comes from aspirea, which also has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and it was easier on the stomach. The chemical, acetylsalicylic acid, proved effective in relieving pain, inflammation, and fever. It was by adding an “a” to the world “spiraea” and removing the Latin ending by replacing it with a simple “n” that the name aspirin was born. Aspirin is now one of the most widely used drugs in the world and it is used to treat not only headache, but also arthritis, heart attacks and also cancer.

Aspirin has not changed too much; it has just evolved. Aspirin is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAID is group of drugs that reduce pain and inflammation and have even been shown to help reduce colorectal cancer.

Along with aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen (brand name Aleve) are among the NSAIDs, which work by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme’s cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).

Studies have shown that combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with aspirin can reverse the tumor’s ability to evade the immune response.

It is hard to get an exact picture of how NSAID treatment would impact survival, but if you make a rough estimate based on information from the American Cancer Society that 40,000 American women will die of breast cancer, 6% could mean up to 2,500 lives that are saved each year only in the United States. Similarly, especially for breast cancer patients, it is important to understand the importance of ketorolac for a biopsy. There are no good studies on this subject, and in cases where the cancer has spread, sometimes surgery is to blame, this is due to increased growth factors being released.

Similar studies have not been done on the effectiveness of injecting aspirin directly into tumors, perhaps because while intravenous aspirin is fairly common in Europe, the FDA has not approved aspirin for intravenous use in the United States. However, a study has shown that intravenous aspirin is effective in treating migraines. In addition, the injection of aspirin is the most effective route, although if it is administered orally, it is recommended to take two doses of 325mg each morning and each night.

Despite its effectiveness, aspirin is not appropriate for all patients. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, rashes, and kidney damage. Furthermore, aspirin can worsen asthma and cause internal bleeding in the stomach, intestines, and brain, as well as increase the risk of a perforated ulcer. Children and adolescents should not take aspirin, as there is a risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome, which affects the brain and liver. According to the aforementioned, it is recommended to take high doses of aspirin as part of a cancer treatment, only under the direction and supervision of a doctor. It is not recommended to self-medicate.

References:

 

Williams, J. (2019, 15^th October) The Immunotherapy Revolution. Pg 102-106

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Immunotherapy for both advanced and early stage cancers

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BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING IMMUNOTHERAPY BEFORE SURGERY IN PEOPLE WITH MELANONA

It is important to know that immunotherapy is a treatment that helps the immune system detect or recognize cancer cells in the body and destroy them.

It is known that melanoma or skin cancer is caused by high exposure to the sun’s rays or UV radiation such as tanning beds, or also to genetic changes in DNA.

Melanoma is the most aggressive and dangerous type of cancer that exists.

However, fortunately there is a method that helps people with this type of cancer, especially patients who present this disease in its most advanced form, that is, in phases 3 and 4, but at the same time it is still possible to achieve an effective treatment using immunotherapies even before any type of surgery to help remove the tumor itself.

It has been detected that immunotherapy in patients with melanoma can be enormously beneficial since the immune system attacks cancer cells not only in the initial tumor but also in other parts of the body where it has spread.

Studies have shown that immunotherapy is more effective if it is done before surgery than after it. In the same way, it has been discovered that adjuvant therapies have become a fundamental part of immunotherapy treatments, whose main objective is to destroy all malignant cells that could not be eliminated by surgery and even those that could not be detected.

It is important to know that it is very favorable, for the patient with some type of melanoma, to start immunotherapy before surgery since there would be a better response from T cells. Moreover, these cells would be capable of recognizing and attacking the tumor before and after the surgery.

References:

 

La inmunoterapia antes de la cirugía es eficaz contra el melanoma. (2022,

November 9^th). Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/noticias/temas-y-relatos-blog/2022/melanoma-inmunoterapia-antes-cirugia

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