Cancer Using Vitamin C to Survive

Scientists are afraid of the possibility that a Vitamin C function could prevent the action of certain types of chemotherapeutic drugs. Vitamin C destroys free radicals. Some cancer drugs work by generating free radicals designed to kill cancer cells. This article contains a test tube study that illustrates this effect. ref

Now, test tube studies isolate cancer cells and just add one or two nutrients to measure influence. But a method has to be found that measures if this Vitamin C action also occurs inside the human body. The ethics involved in this type of study make it difficult to use humans as test subjects for this theory. Using test tube studies may not exactly reflect what happens in the body due to the lack of synergism of the many other nutrients also present and the large number of other processes happening at the same time. There have been cases where the exact opposite really occurs once inside the body. OSU Pauling Institute> ref

SIDEBAR: The effectiveness of vitamin C to neutralize free radicals is really what is being measured here. And yes, vitamin C provides this function so Scientists are concerned this vitamin C action would limit chemotherapeutic drug generated free radicals. Thus, it might be prudent to limit vitamin C to food sources during chemo episodes, But not necessarily during other periods.  --end

When Scientists observed the action in question after the addition of the cancer cells to mice, greater credibility was generated for this possibility. ref  Now, remember the first article in this series talks about how vitamin C prevents tumor growth at higher amounts. This is not in anyway jeopardized by this chemo drug interference action. Here is a good review of vitamin C actions from the American Cancer Society. ref

One aspect that needs clarification concerns the fact that higher blood levels of vitamin C from food sources are protective against cancers while supplements of vitamin C do not seem to provide this protection.

Perhaps the anti-oxidant loads from supplements of vitamin C have a greater chance of crossing a balance point which foods cannot achieve plus foods also have many other valuable phyto-nutrients, maybe some of which have synergistic actions.

Do higher doses of vitamin C interfere with the action of cancer cell killing chemo-drugs? They might! But maybe not for all cancers or even all chemotherapy drugs. And this action could depend upon the level of antioxidants from other sources.

NOTE: Since vitamin C has many important functions, the body does need some. Science should determine the optimal level with the most benefits and least possible adverse effects, using a synergistic method and under different situations of cancer types and treatment protocols.

Cancer Question - Nutrients for immunity

Are there supplements that tweak the immune system to provide a measure of control for cancer support and / or prevention? Maybe! What is known is that there are a few vitamins and other nutrients that cancer hijacks for selfish purposes. Plus, one extremely vital adele that produces p53, a proven cancer fighter.

Precautionary: In any medical disease condition, especially cancer, work with your medical team to support natural body processes with proper dietary practices and positive mental posturing. The food elements mentioned here may have nutritional applications affecting some disease conditions, but they are not substitutes for medical care, they are in addition or complimentary.

FIRST: Vitamin A as 9-cis retinoic acid and the hormone form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3,  combine together at the cell wall (RXR-VDR) to direct cellular genes to build a number of immune acting proteins. This is a vital step for the immune system. Check out the influence of one of these proteins, LL-37. ref

CAUTION:   While there are many benefits from LL-37, it also can be over-expressed to promote detrimental actions on bone health in RA joint conditions. This is why there is a window of dosages for vitamin D and A that must be respected. Too much is just as potentially damaging as too little. Well, maybe it is just a little less damaging.

Immunity: Cancer stem cells, Natural Killer Cells, Viruses

Facts: Natural Killer cells (NK) are a critical part of the immune system, especially against pathogenic viruese. Cancer patients exhibit a reduced NK activity level. Here is one way NK cells support immunity. 

Concerning cancer, the immune system natural killer cell activity level either becomes compromised or has already been weakened. There are natural elements to increase natural killer cell activity in such cases.** ref  One food element has 20 years of research and is recognized as a chemopreventative agent, Broccoli sprouts extract containing Sulforaphane Glucosinolate, or the potential for the body to produce it from supplied elements in broccoli, ref  ref ref ref, or SGS, (Jarrow BroccoMax is one example).*  Other less researched elements include: IP6, ref ref ref, an extract from whole rice kernal (Enzymatic Therapy, Natural Factors, and Jarrow), Mushroom extracts, especially Shitake, Maitake, and Reishi; (numerous Brands, Grifron, New Chapter, Gaia, plus Maitake D-fraction comes up as effective?). ref  Some mushrooms contain beta glucans that trigger immune response.ref ref ref There is ongoing research to verify. Beta Glucans are also found in Saccharomyoces yeast which is used as a growing agent for whole food vitamins.  While this allows saccharomyoces to be listed on whole food vitamin labels, the potency of beta glucan is not significant. One can choose to wait for more research, or consume these products in case the early observations are indeed an indication of future verification. Here is another possible application of SGS for autism. Very early in research. ref ref 

* Early research on sulforaphane compounds looked and evaluated only dietary sources and while animal studies were very positive, the food only analysis showed little positive effects. Today, the supplements of Broccoli sprout extract contain the amount of SGS that would be found in many pounds of commercially available vegetables. An amount almost impossible to achieve from diet alone. Plus, the addition of the enzyme Myrosinase potentially increases the amount of SGS formed in the body from broccoli sulfur compounds. 

** It is mandatory to work with a qualified medical professional in any disease. Sometimes, natural food elements that trigger immune response are counter to the action of chemotherapeutic medicine.

Researched Pathway of Cancer Inhibition

In support of the above insights, regarding immune cell heightened awareness, one possible avenue of activity from dietary elements appears to control the production of cancer stem cells and prevent abnormal actions. To the above mentioned food elements can be added turmeric (curcumin), garlic, green tea, red wine (resveratrol) ref, fermented soy, tocotrienols (vitamin E factors), and Vitamin D3. ref ref <nano technology for better absorption) ref <chart explanation is presented here, copyright protected.

The elements in these foods are concentrated in supplements to achieve dosages at levels with impact on target cells. Of course, working with your medical team can greatly increase the effectiveness of these nutrients to support pharmaceutical chemotherapeutic agents. Precautionary practices may be needed with other nutrients to not block the actions of the drugs or feed cancer growth.

"Wnt" pathway to stem cell activity here. This is relatively new research (30 years) and needs greater verification. ref The inclusion of some of the foods mentioned here could prove beneficial over time. Nature may be attempting to safeguard the regulation of evolutionary processes to protect Wnt pathways and prevent cellular damage. ref Dosages are critical and may not be fully developed at this time. The vitamin D exposure issue lately has generated very high and possibly adverse dosages due to incomplete understanding of body nutrient dynamics.** 

"Hedgehog" messaging is vital to healthy cells. ref Notice the circled items above it that can trigger adverse effects, namely palmitic acid, a fat, and choline, a B vitamin. Some nutrients can have actions in 2 directions, one positive and one negative. Which one direction predominates is determined by other surrounding conditions. "Notch" is explained here. 

**It is critical here to know that it is the active hormone form of vitamin D that exhibits the Wnt control of potential cancer stem cells. This is not the blood storage form of D generated by supplements or produced by sunshine on skin. The body uses the storage form of vitamin D to convert into the hormone form of vitamin D when needed. The trigger for hormone D production is a drop in the level of calcium in the blood, not lower bone density. Nutritionists recommend higher calcium intake to achieve higher bone density which they view prevents fractures. But at what price is this to the body if it lowers the need for the activation of the hormone form of vitamin D necessary for cancer protection? 

Balance and Harmony are hallmarks of body integrity. The body benefits from cycles. To constantly and chronically override body control mechanisms, like the maintenance and balance of blood calcium levels, appears to not be healthy over the long term. Why are Scientists now finding that a lifetime of higher milk consumption is associated with greater bone fracture risk rather than a reduction?

APPLE A DAY 

Does it really help keep the Doctor away? Among many other nutrients in apples with beneficial actions, there is one quite special, D'Glucarate. This reference talks about how D'Glucarate is a major player in cellular waste clean up and detoxification. Plus, it also helps control and limit an enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, that at elevated levels is responsible for initiating certain cancer promoting factors in breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Yes, an apple a day certainly does live up to the saying. Supplements have the form Calcium D'Glucarate. Plus milk thistle helps out here too.

The p53 Cancer Immunity Connection ref

This is a very fundamental concept of immense significance. Scientists have found a direct link from the immune system to the prevention of cancer cells. The link is through a protein produced by the TP53 gene. This gene produces p53 protein that functions to prohibit cancer cell development, as well as to destroy existing canceer cells. It turns out that elephants and some whales have much higher levels of p53 in their bodies and this could be the reason they have few cancers. Elephants have 20 pairs of gene TP53 while humans have only one. One TP53 gene comes from each of DNA donors, male and female. In many types of human cancers, a mutated gene p53 is present at least 50% of the time, and in certain cancers, at 90%. The mutated gene form is called an allele of TP53.

QUESTION: Are there natural ways to protect the two p53 producing adeles? 

Could vitamins or other supplements play such a role?

The answer to both is yes. Broccoli SGS  ref and vegetable and fruit flavonoids play vital roles in protecting TP53 genes and activating the correct p53 proteins. ref  Plus, don't leave out the value of medicinal mushrooms, ref

WRAP UP

There are probably many pathways involved in cancer. Any one may have some impact. But obviously, the best approach would be to incorporate a postive lifestyle overall and both prevent and maintain a strong immune function to stop cancers before they get a leg up. 

Cancer on Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 may be one supplement that is best taken under Medical supervision. If anemic and low in vitamin B12, moderate supplements might be indicated and monitored by a Doctor. But watch out for higher dosages and the cumulative effect of vitamin B12 in many different formulas taken together. Many people take vitamin B12 for energy and blood building. Plus, also vitamin B12 is part of three nutrients taken to help lower homocysteine levels associated with heart disease (while lowered, no benefits found on CVD).

But, one interesting association represents elevated Vitamin B12 levels and cancer. Higher vitamin B12 blood levels (not from supplements) often precede and indicate tumor growth and a number of other diseases. ref Certain cancers could disrupt the vitamin B12 pathways which results in an elevated blood level of cobalamin. Thus, in populations prone to cancers, taking vitamin B12 supplements might hide this action and Doctors could miss detecting cancers until later stages. ref <lung cancer, ref Somehow vitamin B12 is not going into cells and tissues but remaining in the blood. Might be due to excess vitamin B12 carrier protein production. This evidently can happen with different levels of vitamin B12, even deficiencies. ref

Foods with vitamin B12 include animal and seafoods, dairy, eggs, and fortified cereals. Vitamin B12 ia not found in plants such as vegetables and fruits unless fortified. Fortified yeast supplements are often used by vegans or others on restricted diets. Some fortified foods might include margarine, fruit juice, and dairy-free yogurt. Check labels for cobalamin listed.

This topic is an emerging issue, so watch for more...

Cancer on Collagen

Collagen is currently a bright star in the supplement world. 

Collagen is represented by 28 or more different forms of protein divided into 4 types that hold body structures like organs, bones, skin, and muscles together, plus to give them different shapes. Supplements of different collagen types are promoted to keep skin younger looking, grow thicker hair, build stronger bones, make joints flexible and pain free, and even influence cardiovascular health by maintaining artery elasticity. All activities that are linked to anti-ageing aspects. The majority of articles on collagen supplements also mention they are very safe without any known serious side effects.  Not as well known, collagen also participates in the differentiation process of turning stem cells into bone building or other vital cell types. These important activities of collagen truly make it one of the power players in health for the body.

The body builds lots of collagen proteins, but overtime, the building process slows down and less collagen is found in the body. Two noticeable areas to illustrate this include thinner and less elastic skin and a reduction in number and thickness of head hair. 

Collagen even gets mentioned for possible prevention of certain cancers. Yes, collagens are great health boosters when the body is healthy and the collagen matrix is strong. But like some other processes, structures, and nutrients, when errors and other mutations start to occur, the healthful benefits of collagen can get hijacked by cancers and the beneficial collagen functions can be turned against the body's immune system and end up not only protecting cancer cells, but also to help them grow and spread faster.

Collagen is readily involved in many cancer structures and processes. ref ref **

One such collagen activity involves a set of elements called DDR1 and DDR2. They operate in and around cells, especially in the extracellular matrix, ECM. The DDRs influence many cell functions like migration, adhesion, differentiation, invasion, and apoptosis (normal cell death process). ref* Before DDRs can function, they have to first bind to their ligand. Many types of COLLAGEN are the ligands for DDRs. Many collagen types bind with DDR1 but just certain collagen types appear to bind with DDR2. After binding with collagen, the DDRs are activated and ready to work. 

THIS BRINGS UP A QUESTION; HOW DO COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS INFLUENCE DDR PRODUCTION AND ACTIVITY?

OF INTEREST: Collagen supplements during digestion are broken down into smaller protein parts called amino acids. This is the same for all proteins, such as meats, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, etc. Thus, the benefit of collagen supplements is really as a protein source. It is still up to the body to build these amino acids back into the various collagen types. There are about 18 amino acids with half being essential. The body can build all amino acids if given the essential ones. Vitamin C, often low in diet, and the mineral silica, usually abundant in diet, direct the body when it builds collagens as well as other proteins. ref  ref

HOW ARE DDRs CONNECTED TO CANCER

DDRs are involved with many avenues of cancer cell activities; cell differentiation, migration, invasion, and evading apoptosis. This article from the NIH opens one can of worms. ref DDRs can be hijacked by cancer cells to protect their growth against immune cells attempting to destroy them. ref The DDRs use a process to align collagen fibers to form a barrier around the ECM where cancer cells are growing. Many types of cancers exhibit a higher amount of DDRs than the surrounding normal tissue.

This concept is still in beginning review process, but early signs are troubling. What makes a normal DDR function turn adverse when cancers are growing? Do collagen supplements increase DDR activity? There is a possibility that heat treated collagen supplements might not increase DDRs. 

A new avenue of potential breast cancer treatments is using an element to limit DDRs activity hoping to prevent cancer growth. It may be best to follow the precautionary principle and not consume collagen supplements until this issue is settled. Vitamin industry research has revealed that collagen supplements can increase collagen levels in the body.  

There are obviously many factors that are involved in determining whether DDR1 takes a positive or negative turn. One involves the Wnt 5a gene pathway. ref ref

This is where DDR2 also enters. It is involved with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Wnt5a attempts to limit breast cancer growth by down requlating EMT. There is a relationshop between Wnt5a and the DDRs that is important to keep breast tissues viable and limit cancer initiatin. 

This is where DDR2 also enters. It is involved with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Wnt 5a attempts to limit breast cancer growth by down regulating EMT. There is a relationship between Wnt 5a and the DDRs that is important to keep breast tissues viable and limit cancer initiation. Collagen appears to be involved not only as a ligand binding DDR promoter, but also in production of barriers that protect cancer cells from immune cells looking to destroy them.

When the Collagen / DDR (plus other balancing factors) systems are running in harmony, they are protective against cancer development.  But when mutants or flaws ever so slightly upset DDR balance and functions, cancer cells may be generated and promoted.

How supplemental collagen impacts this process has apparently not been explored yet. Or at least, it has not appeared in research publications. An ongoing approach is in place to find out. Return soon!

A new development: ref Collagen plays an anti-cancer role in pancreatic cancer. Obviously, there are other factors to consider which might influence collagen behavior.

* Copy from this reference: "When improperly regulated, DDR activation can lead to abnormal cellular proliferation activities such as in cancer. Hence how and when the DDRs associate with the major basis of mammalian tissue infrastructure, fibrillar collagen, should be of keen interest."

**Copy from this reference: "Cells and molecules in the tumor microenvironment have dual effects on cancer progression. The role of collagen is a double-edged sword in cancer. On the one hand, collagen, cancer cells, other cells, and other matrix molecules mutually form an inter-reinforcing loop. This loop contributes to the development of cancer by inducing cancer cells proliferation, migration, and metastasis. On the other hand, preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that collagen may slow the development of cancer cells to some extent under some conditions. In summary, the association of collagen with cancer is only partially understood, and future studies are needed to elucidate detailed collagen biological mechanisms in cancer tissue that can be applied to precisely regulate collagen balance to achieve the maximum benefit of treatment."

WRAP UP:  When the body is healthy, collagen systems prevent cancers. BUT, as the body begins to exhibit damage from unhealthy lifestyle and or dietary practices that overwhelm body defences, gene and cell mutations start to corrupt the collagen and related systems. When this damage is big enough, diseases manifest. And as cancer grows, the collagen system is turned against the immune system to protect and grow cancer cells.

HEALTH FACTOR DETERMINATION

What factors maintain a healthy body and keep collagen functioning in a protective role will also be presented in another article. The next few articles present interesting basics. article1  2  article article article article

Here is one way that diet might influence DDRs and impact collagen stuructures on cancer. This reference mentions that IGF-1, insulin growth factor-1, increases DDR activity. IGF-1 is the only element that is increased in milk produced from hormone (rBST) treated cows. DO not drink this milk. IGF-1 has a link with breast cancer and prostate cancers. ref The title of one of the past references is included next.

"IGF-I induces upregulation of DDR1 collagen receptor in breast cancer cells by suppressing..."

The United States is the only industrial Country that has not banned hormone produced milk. Here is what the US Government FDA says about the safety of hormone. While out of the US NIH National Library of Medicine comes this opposite study from IRAN. ref Which information is correct? Next is another article about the dangers of increased IGF-1. The rBST hormone given to cows more than doubles the content of IGF-1 in milk. Some IGF-1 in the body is necessary, but evidently too much gets involved with some impactful diseases.