How an integrative therapy helps against prostate cancer relapse

Men with relapsed prostate cancer have historically been limited in terms of available treatment options…

However, a new double-blind clinical trial on the efficacy of Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) against biochemically relapsed prostate cancer is opening new doors for patients struggling against this aggressive disease.

Published 2017 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the clinical study – which is currently ongoing – garnered significant attention with results on the first set of subjects who completed the initial arm of the trial. Data from this group of 34 patients showed MCP is safe, improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients and offers potential benefits against disease progression.

Study participants took 4.8 grams of MCP three times daily for six months. Prior to starting the study, all participants had progressively rising PSA levels. After the six months of MCP treatment, 79% (27 patients) had stabilization or improvement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling times. Of these 27 patients, 21 had a stabilization or decrease of PSA. No serious side effects were observed. Since all patients demonstrated an escalation of PSA prior to the study, the reduction of PSA doubling times is a promising result. The study authors point to the efficacy of MCP on disease progression.

While these clinical results are exciting, they’re certainly not isolated. A specific form of MCP with the correct molecular structure is one of most-researched dietary supplements being investigated today. More than 40 peer-reviewed studies demonstrate this specific MCP’s diverse benefits, including three clinical studies in prostate cancer.

So, what exactly is MCP and why is it so effective in prostate cancer and other types of cancer?

MCP is derived from citrus pectin and modified to a precise molecular structure using a patented process that ensures absorption and bioactivity in the circulation.

But what makes MCP unique is its unmatched ability to block the harmful effects of galectin-3, a rogue protein directly linked to the initiation and progression of numerous life threatening and chronic, degenerative diseases. Over 8,000 published studies now point to the role of galectin-3 in cancer growth and metastasis, chronic inflammation, the progression of inflammation to fibrosis, immune suppression, and more.

Galectin-3: Prostate cancer biomarker and therapeutic target

For many years, the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test was regarded as the gold standard biomarker for assessing prostate cancer and prostate health. However, research now demonstrates that regular PSA screening does not necessarily improve outcomes.

First, the PSA test does not measure the cancer’s aggressiveness. The truth is, many prostate cancers are slow-growing and do not necessarily pose a threat.

Furthermore, the PSA test may have trouble identifying aggressive cancers early. Essentially, it’s quick to detect slow-growing cancers, leading to invasive procedures that may not be necessary, and too slow to detect aggressive ones.

For an accurate picture of prostate cancer and prostate health, its recommended that the PSA test be taken in context with other complementary diagnostics. This includes the biomarker galectin-3.

In 2011, the galectin-3 serum assay was approved by the FDA as an active biomarker for CHF and cardiovascular disease. Research shows it can be used for assessing cancer risk and progression as well.

A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Pathology showed that reducing levels of galectin-3 inhibited prostate cancer metastasis. A 2013 study published in Oncotarget reports that galectin-3 serves as a compliment to better interpret PSA test results. Authors found galectin-3 present at higher levels in the prostate sera of patients with prostate cancer.

More than just a bystander biomarker, galectin-3 is seen as an active biomarker, meaning it is recognized as not only a byproduct of pathogenic processes, but a key driver as well.

Modified citrus pectin: The only proven galectin-3 inhibitor

Within the fast-growing body of research on galectin-3 in cancer and other conditions, MCP has emerged as the only available galectin-3 inhibitor. Regular citrus pectin is a complex polysaccharide fiber with repeating galacturonic acid groups and neutral sugar side chains. In MCP, these large molecules are modified enzymatically, reducing their weight to less than15 kilodaltons and esterification from 70 to less than 10 percent. As a result, MCP is able to enter the bloodstream from the digestion and bind to excess galectin-3 in the circulation and at tissue sites.

A number of previous studies have looked into MCP’s benefits in regard to prostate cancer…

• A 1999 clinical study presented at the International Conference on Diet and Prevention of Cancer in Finland found that prostate cancer patients who received MCP significantly increased their PSA doubling time.
• A 2003 phase II clinical study published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases analyzed the effects of MCP in men with biochemical relapse of prostate cancer after local therapy. Results showed that 5 grams of MCP three times per day for one year more than doubled PSA doubling time in 70% of subjects.
• A 2007 clinical study published in Clinical Medicine: Oncology found that cancer patients with advanced solid tumors who were treated with MCP stabilized and experienced improved quality of life.

Synergy with chemotherapy

MCP has also been shown to increase the efficacy of certain chemotherapy drugs and reduce side effects. For example, Doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective anti-cancer drug, but it’s also a very toxic one with the potential to cause severe heart and immune damage. While the compound can be useful in treating advanced prostate cancer patients, the issue is dosage-dependent toxicity. Due to its high toxicity, it can be difficult to give patients a sufficient dose to inhibit the cancer without causing significant side effects.

However, a study published in the journal Cell Biology International showed that combining Dox with MCP increased the anti-cancer activity of both agents. MCP synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic effects of Dox in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer, allowing for a significant reduction in the dosage of Dox.

When seeking researched adjuncts for cancer and other conditions, it’s important to note that the only MCP shown effective in published research is a patented form that contains the precise molecular weight and structure discussed above. This specification is critical to its efficacy, as larger weight MCP will simply pass through the digestive tract unabsorbed.

One of the keys to success in integrative cancer treatment — not just prostate cancer but many others as well — is the strategic application of individualized protocols based on a diverse range of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The use of MCP and the galectin-3 biomarker are unique examples of both. Galectin-3 serves as an important diagnostic tool which is easily quantifiable. It’s also becoming a powerful therapeutic target for numerous conditions, with MCP as a leading agent recognized for its ability to block its tumorigenic, metastatic and pro-fibrotic actions in the treatment of cancer and chronic conditions.

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