Don't know what to believe

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JimsBrother
JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
I've been reading and reading and reading some more. A couple hours ago I came across some information on something called DCA (Dichloroacetate) a drug that has been around for some time. It seems because it has been around, the big drug companies aren't interested because they can't make money on. It is a relativly cheap item to produce and its not patentable. They won't pay the millions for a clinical trial because they can't make the money back.

Now, I'm trying to keep an open mind because I am new at the study end of this disease, and because I've been on the internet for a long time, I know 99% of what is out there is nothing but bull. So when I began reading about this I just figured it was more of the same. However, this doesn't seem so.

The University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada, did some trials back in 2006 and found it to be quite promising. Upon further researching I found that the National Cancer Institute lists several clinical trials featuring this drug. That leads me to think there must be more to it than just another rumor of a cure for cancer.

http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrials.aspx?protocolsearchid=8126752

3 active trials, 2 approved , not yet active

sodium dichloroacetate
The sodium salt of dichloroacetic acid with potential antineoplastic activity. Dichloroacetate ion inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, resulting in the inhibition of glycolysis and a decrease in lactate production. This agent may stimulate apoptosis in cancer cells by restoring normal mitochondrial-induced apoptotic signaling.

If you check with good old Google, you will find tons of links about this.

I don't know how clinical trials work. What happens when one is completed, the difference between phase 1 and phase 2 and so on, but according to what I did find from The University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada, they published the phase 1 in 2007, I can't find any mention of additional trials, except the ones at the NCI. Can someone help me?

UPDATE

This is the latest info I have been able to find, it is the website of The University of Alberta devoted to this research.

http://www.dca.med.ualberta.ca/Home/

Much of what I have found is 3rd party reporting by news organizations, the link above provides clinical research results. Since I am not knowledgable of clinical trials I have no idea where it stands regarding obtaining actual treatments with this. With everything I have read in the recent weeks, this is the one thing I plan on finding out more about.

I sent an email to the doctor listed on the published report. I'm curious what his reply will say.

**Origional post edited and additional information provided.

Comments

  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
    #2
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    Toronto Cancer Center treats with DCA
    I'm finding more and more credible info on this. At a Private Cancer Center in Toronto has used this with over 260 patients they are including DCA along with chemo.

    http://www.medicorcancer.com/dca-reports.html

    I did not check the policies on reprinting from their site, and I would rasther not post some of the information when it is all on the web site listed above. It's best that anyone interested visit the site and get it right from the horse's mouth so to speak.

    I understand the hesitation some may have considering something not in the mainstream list of protocals. And I would also, however, I have been finding more and more about this that tells me it is a viable option being used by many people, and by medical communities around the world.

    As with any treatment, some work for some people and not for others, and should always be done with medical supervision.

    Rob
  • rlasalle
    rlasalle Member Posts: 3
    #3
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    DCA
    I actually used DCA with Vitamin B 1, B 6 and black tea. My problem was I used too much. If you use DCA, I would recommend 6.5 mg/kg of weight two times daily, Mon-Fri and skip on weekends. UCLA completed a phase one study and are now in phase two. Because I used too high of a dose of DCA, I got peripheral neuropathy, a bad rash, and dehydration. But, it did shed some cancer cells and stop the growth of some cancer as evident by CT and PET scans. If you are not doing chemo, or other treatment, I would recommend DCA. Why not?
  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
    #4
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    rlasalle said:

    DCA
    I actually used DCA with Vitamin B 1, B 6 and black tea. My problem was I used too much. If you use DCA, I would recommend 6.5 mg/kg of weight two times daily, Mon-Fri and skip on weekends. UCLA completed a phase one study and are now in phase two. Because I used too high of a dose of DCA, I got peripheral neuropathy, a bad rash, and dehydration. But, it did shed some cancer cells and stop the growth of some cancer as evident by CT and PET scans. If you are not doing chemo, or other treatment, I would recommend DCA. Why not?

    The other side
    I just read an excellent article on DCA and the article closed with the following:

    One has to remember that cancer is not just one disease. Not only that, but even a single type cancer is often not just one disease. As I have written extensively about before, cancer is incredibly complex. Because of that complexity, it’s incredibly unlikely that any one drug will be any sort of “magic bullet” to cure cancer. Worse, simply using a drug like DCA outside the auspices of well-designed clinical trials will virtually guarantee that we will never know for sure whether the drug actually works. Because of that, as frustrating as it is, as slow as it is, letting science take its course to determine if DCA works, how it works, and for what cancers it works, is the best method to make sure that the most patients are helped and the fewest are harmed. I don’t say this because I want DCA to fail; I say it because I would very much like to see DCA succeed.

    Published by David Gorski 5-2010

    http://www.allvoices.com/s/event-5844284/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY2llbmNlYmFzZWRtZWRpY2luZS5vcmcvP3A9NTE2Ng==

    Mr Gorski is a cancer researcher with years experience in the field. He talkes about the clinical trials being done, and all in all he says this may be a promising drug for some types of cancer and more testing is needed.

    I have to thank him because this is the first article that presents both sides of the issue.

    I am here to help someone I care about beat his cancer, I am looking for answers, and I will continue to ask and ask and I can only hope and pray that somewhere, something accomplishes that goal.
  • Gatoraid
    Gatoraid Member Posts: 66
    #5
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    JimsBrother said:

    The other side
    I just read an excellent article on DCA and the article closed with the following:

    One has to remember that cancer is not just one disease. Not only that, but even a single type cancer is often not just one disease. As I have written extensively about before, cancer is incredibly complex. Because of that complexity, it’s incredibly unlikely that any one drug will be any sort of “magic bullet” to cure cancer. Worse, simply using a drug like DCA outside the auspices of well-designed clinical trials will virtually guarantee that we will never know for sure whether the drug actually works. Because of that, as frustrating as it is, as slow as it is, letting science take its course to determine if DCA works, how it works, and for what cancers it works, is the best method to make sure that the most patients are helped and the fewest are harmed. I don’t say this because I want DCA to fail; I say it because I would very much like to see DCA succeed.

    Published by David Gorski 5-2010

    http://www.allvoices.com/s/event-5844284/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY2llbmNlYmFzZWRtZWRpY2luZS5vcmcvP3A9NTE2Ng==

    Mr Gorski is a cancer researcher with years experience in the field. He talkes about the clinical trials being done, and all in all he says this may be a promising drug for some types of cancer and more testing is needed.

    I have to thank him because this is the first article that presents both sides of the issue.

    I am here to help someone I care about beat his cancer, I am looking for answers, and I will continue to ask and ask and I can only hope and pray that somewhere, something accomplishes that goal.

    Still Unsure about DCA
    I'm still reading but remain standoffish about it. Not tat I'm looking forward to Cisplatin and 5-FU because I'm not. We'll chat later.

    And by the way...I know you doctored the photo to show a finger pointing at the cat. Knowing you the truth is probably that you were holding an AK-47.
  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
    #6
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    Gatoraid said:

    Still Unsure about DCA
    I'm still reading but remain standoffish about it. Not tat I'm looking forward to Cisplatin and 5-FU because I'm not. We'll chat later.

    And by the way...I know you doctored the photo to show a finger pointing at the cat. Knowing you the truth is probably that you were holding an AK-47.

    Same here.
    Jim,

    Yep me too but still not throwing it out.

    I am sold on the medical marijuana though, it's got to be better than Oxycontin. May as well be happy. I even have my pharmacist all picked out. He has an office in his car and he delivers.

    As for the AK-47, shhhhhhh it's loaded and I have a hair trigger.

    Talk to you in the mornin. Stay well.

    Love ya,
    Rob

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