Can supplements help conventional prostate cancer therapies?

One of the most critical strategies in conventional cancer care is preventing treatment resistance.

Essentially, we must find ways to stay ahead of the disease by preventing cancer cells from becoming immune to the anti-cancer actions of chemotherapy drugs, radiation, hormonal therapies and others.

This is why integrative medicine can be so useful in the successful treatment and prevention of cancer growth, metastasis, and recurrence.

Published research continues to demonstrate the ability of specific integrative approaches, including targeted supplements, to significantly enhance chemotherapy and radiation, prevent treatment resistance and increase efficacy. These combined approaches are allowing for lower dosages of conventional treatments, fewer side effects, and importantly, significantly greater clinical outcomes.

The supplement that helps prostate cancer therapy

One powerful supplement demonstrating multiple cellular health mechanisms is a specific form of Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP), a supplement derived from the pith of citrus peels and modified for bioavailability and bioactivity in the circulation. MCP is increasingly researched for its ability to support against malignant cell growth and invasiveness, metastasis, and importantly, synergize with conventional treatments including chemotherapy and radiation.

What makes MCP so important to both researchers and health professionals is its unique ability to block the harmful actions of rogue protein galectin-3 (Gal-3). More than 8,000 studies on Gal-3 highlight its causative role in cancer, heart disease, and numerous other chronic, inflammatory conditions. And from this extensive research, MCP of a specific molecular weight and structure (between 5-15 kDa and esterification below 10%) has emerged as the only available agent capable of halting and even reversing the harmful effects of Gal-3 throughout the body.

Enhancing radiation treatment

The latest research study on MCP, published July 2018 in Integrative Cancer Therapies, demonstrates that MCP enhances radiotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. Researchers from the Laboratory of Herbal Medicine and Cancer Research, Institute of Oncology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and the University of Tel Aviv, showed that MCP sensitizes aggressive prostate cancer cells to ionizing radiation by downregulating the actions of galectin-3, increasing reactive oxygen species production, modulating DNA repair pathways, and reducing invasive cell behavior.

This specific form of MCP has been researched and used clinically for decades as an effective adjuvant supplement for cancer patient support, including prostate cancer. However, this is the first published study to show it enhances radiotherapy against prostate cancer.  These findings highlight the importance of MCP as a safe and effective agent to support against prostate cancer growth, overcome radioresistance, and even reduce the dosages of radiotherapy.

Growing body of evidence

Previous and ongoing studies demonstrate MCP’s ability to promote prostate health. For example, a recent interim analysis from a clinical study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, demonstrated the ability of MCP to lengthen PSA doubling time and reduce progression of biochemically relapsed prostate cancer in 79% of patients. These results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2018 Genitourinary Cancer Symposium.

As research continues to explore the multiple mechanisms and benefits offered by this simple natural ingredient, Modified Citrus Pectin is earning its place as an important adjuvant therapy to support health in the face our most critical conditions.

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