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DNC News Indirect ways to inhibit cancer spread Subject: One way to slow cancer spread is to use supplements which affect connective tissue and decrease the ability of cancer cells to invade healthy tissue. A number of natural compounds typically used to strengthen connective tissue hinder cancer cells by inhibiting the enzymes cancer cells secrete to dissolve the extracellular matrix of connective tissue which normally blocks their migration. There are a number of supplements which act indirectly to slow cancer cells from invading surrounding tissue. It is interesting that most are more commonly used for the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids. This is such an uncommon use for these products that it is necessary to elaborate the rationale behind these recommendations.
Invasion, the spread of cancer cells into adjacent tissue, is one of the
distinguishing features of malignancy. Invasion and metastasis are closely
related: cancer cells must generally invade connective tissue surrounding
blood vessels for metastasis to be successful.
This extracellular matrix is a barrier to tumor invasion. It governs the behavior of the cells it surrounds. Most normal cells when removed from their surrounding extracellular matrix will undergo apoptosis and self destruct. Cancer cells often don't care about ECM and can live without it. Normal cells secrete the material to surround themselves with ECM, cancer cells don't. Instead cancer cells produce a matrix that helps them migrate and proliferate. Cancer cells produce enzymes so they can break free of the ECM. Two types of enzymes are necessary: protease (protein digesting enzymes) and glycosidase (glycoside digesting enzymes). These enzymes allow cancer cells to digest and dissolve the extracellular matrix (ECM) allowing the cells to spread. There are many different types of these enzymes but the ones most important for this discussion are the collagenases, a type of protease that digests collagen and hyaluronidase, a type of glycosidase that digests hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is one of the most common GAGs which make up the ground
substance of ECM. Hyaluronidase, the enzyme which digests hyaluronic acid,
can cut channels through the ECM helping cancer cells invade surrounding
tissues. Though these enzymes play important roles in health, in cancer
the goal is to reduce their activity in order to reduce the potential for
cancer cells to spread. A number of natural substances will slow the
action of hyaluronidase, the enzyme which degrades hyaluronic acid. They
are:
Collagenase enzymes break down collagen, the fibrous material found in
connective tissue. Reducing collagenase activity makes it more difficult
for cancer cells to invade surrounding tissue. Various natural substances
affect this process: Here is a list of natural compounds which either
inhibit collagenase activity, increase collagen synthesis or stabilize
collagen:
Many of these compounds listed are commonly used in treating varicose
veins or hemorrhoids. The pathology of varicose veins is very similar to
cancer invasion. In both cases intermittent blood stasis causes tissue
hypoxia (suffocation) and reperfusion which leads to free radical
generation. The free radicals degrade the collagen of the ECM and basement
membrane. In addition collagenases are produced which further degrade the
collagen. In both disease, normal matrix isn't made.
What all this boils down to is that in situations where there is active malignancy, treating it as if it were just a bad case of hemorrhoids may prevent cancer cells from invading adjacent tissue and decrease the chance of metastasis. Not all the substances mentioned in this discussion are commonly available. Here are the suggested doses for the more common of them.
Polysaccharides (mushroom extracts: Coriolus/ PSK, Maitake, Shitake) 2-9
g/day |
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