This 2012 review by Moen and Stuhr examines the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on cancer progression, focusing on studies from 2004 to 2012. The authors found no evidence that HBOT stimulates tumor growth or recurrence. Instead, HBOT may inhibit tumor growth in certain cancer subtypes, such as breast
This 2019 review examines the role of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as an adjunct in cancer therapy. At pharmacological concentrations, vitamin C exhibits pro-oxidant properties, generating reactive oxygen species that selectively induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells. It also modulates epigenetic mechanisms by influencing DNA and histone demethylation, affecting gene expression
This study evaluated the cytotoxic effects of methylene blue (MB) on various cell lines, including erythroleukemic cells (with and without multidrug resistance), melanoma cells, lymphocytes, and melanocytes. MB demonstrated higher cytotoxicity towards tumor cells, particularly erythroleukemic cells, compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The study suggests that MB’s preferential
This 2014 international multicenter study analyzed 405 cases of metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) to evaluate clinicopathological features and prognostic factors. The study found that lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion, and histologic subtype significantly influenced outcomes, whereas tumor size and grade did not. Notably, spindle cell carcinoma subtype was associated with
This study evaluated the safety and potential interactions of herbal medicines used by ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Among 98 patients, 42.9% reported using or intending to use herbal products. Five herbs—wheatgrass, European mistletoe, ginger, ephedra, and Oriental mistletoe—were selected for in vitro analysis. Results indicated that ginger and both
This 2012 retrospective study evaluated the impact of lentinan, a β-glucan extracted from shiitake mushrooms, as an adjunct to S-1 and paclitaxel chemotherapy in 39 patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer. The treatment group (n=19) received lentinan in combination with chemotherapy, while the control group (n=20) did not. Although there
This 2003 randomized, controlled clinical study investigated the impact of Isorel, a mistletoe extract (Viscum album L.), as an adjunct therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (Dukes C and D stages). Participants were allocated into three groups: surgery alone, surgery plus standard 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy, and surgery plus chemotherapy
This case report presents two patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (Stage IIIC) who underwent standard first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, combined with high-dose antioxidant therapy. The antioxidant regimen included oral supplements (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, and a multivitamin/mineral complex) and intravenous vitamin C (60 grams
This 2019 review explores melatonin’s multifaceted role in cancer prevention and therapy. Melatonin acts as a potent antioxidant, directly scavenging free radicals and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby mitigating oxidative stress. It regulates mitochondrial function and inhibits pro-oxidant enzymes, contributing to the maintenance of genomic stability. Melatonin also
This 2013 randomized phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of adding mistletoe extract (Iscador) to carboplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study found that patients receiving mistletoe extract experienced improved quality of life, including better emotional and functional well-being, compared to those receiving
