Cancer is an expensive disease. Investigations and management cost a lot of money. Insurance does not help much unless one knows the exact method of extracting that from the insurance companies. Availability of inexpensive drugs is the dream of many patients. It would be even better if drugs which are inexpensive and are already being used for other common diseases can somehow be useful for the treatment of cancer. I am talking today of exactly this scenario. I am sure these facts will leave you dumbstruck and seething with anger against the commercial nature of the pharma industry.
METFORMIN is the first drug I am addressing. Everyone knows Metformin. Doctors use it for Diabetes, Cosmetologists for obesity, Gynecologists for PCOS. It is a cheap drug with high safety profile and low cost. It is synthesized from French lilac and is found to limit the recurrence of particularly prostate cancer and early breast cancer. In fact, the National cancer Institute of US and Canadian Health services have joined hands for a large clinical study. Interestingly the way it works is by reducing the supply of excess glucose to the cancer cells (on which they thrive) and also affecting the mitochondria within the cells. It has even demonstrated promise in killing chemotherapy resistant cancer stem cells.
The next wonder drug is CIMETIDINE . This H2 receptor blocker in fact is an OTC drug. This is shown to halt tumor growth when used in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy. It seems to work well in cell culture in human and animal studies. Benefit is seen in Colorectal cancer. It also showed a statistically significant improvement in overall survival.
The next magic drug is NITROGLYERINE . Originally created to make explosives, it has been in use for more than 130 years mainly for the angina pectoris Used in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy, it has shown to it has been shown to improve the response of many cancers including that of the lung and prostate.
The next promising group of drugs is BETA BLOCKERS. Regularly used in the treatment of hypertension and arrhythmias, it has been shown to control the growth of a wide range of cancers, including those involving the breast, bowel, ovary, lung and melanoma. Lab studies have shown promise in the inhibition of progression of the breast cancer and metastasis. Animal studies showed promise in the response to chemotherapy. Humans studies showed promise in the decrease of progression of ovarian and pancreatic cancers. These benefits were seen with Propranolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol.
The last drug I am going to name will leave you really surprised - It is a commonly used humble deworming agent, -an antiparasitic drug MEBENDAZOLE ! When used in in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy, it is found to reduce the tumor growth. It is found to help in the treatment of Brain and Adrenocortical cancers. It has also shown promise in metastatic adrenocortical and metastatic colon cancers. However, no human studies have been completed upto now.
The question therefore arises, if these drugs are indeed good, then why there is no focused research going on ? Why serious attempts are not being done to exploit this knowledge to the benefit f the mankind? One does not have to be an Einstein to guess the answer. There is no monetary returns for the research / clinical trials / clinical usage of these drugs. Unless carefully planned studies are conducted, these drugs will be soon shoved to the corner and made invisible to the doctors and patients!
METFORMIN is the first drug I am addressing. Everyone knows Metformin. Doctors use it for Diabetes, Cosmetologists for obesity, Gynecologists for PCOS. It is a cheap drug with high safety profile and low cost. It is synthesized from French lilac and is found to limit the recurrence of particularly prostate cancer and early breast cancer. In fact, the National cancer Institute of US and Canadian Health services have joined hands for a large clinical study. Interestingly the way it works is by reducing the supply of excess glucose to the cancer cells (on which they thrive) and also affecting the mitochondria within the cells. It has even demonstrated promise in killing chemotherapy resistant cancer stem cells.
The next wonder drug is CIMETIDINE . This H2 receptor blocker in fact is an OTC drug. This is shown to halt tumor growth when used in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy. It seems to work well in cell culture in human and animal studies. Benefit is seen in Colorectal cancer. It also showed a statistically significant improvement in overall survival.
The next magic drug is NITROGLYERINE . Originally created to make explosives, it has been in use for more than 130 years mainly for the angina pectoris Used in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy, it has shown to it has been shown to improve the response of many cancers including that of the lung and prostate.
The next promising group of drugs is BETA BLOCKERS. Regularly used in the treatment of hypertension and arrhythmias, it has been shown to control the growth of a wide range of cancers, including those involving the breast, bowel, ovary, lung and melanoma. Lab studies have shown promise in the inhibition of progression of the breast cancer and metastasis. Animal studies showed promise in the response to chemotherapy. Humans studies showed promise in the decrease of progression of ovarian and pancreatic cancers. These benefits were seen with Propranolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol.
The last drug I am going to name will leave you really surprised - It is a commonly used humble deworming agent, -an antiparasitic drug MEBENDAZOLE ! When used in in conjunction with the standard chemotherapy, it is found to reduce the tumor growth. It is found to help in the treatment of Brain and Adrenocortical cancers. It has also shown promise in metastatic adrenocortical and metastatic colon cancers. However, no human studies have been completed upto now.
The question therefore arises, if these drugs are indeed good, then why there is no focused research going on ? Why serious attempts are not being done to exploit this knowledge to the benefit f the mankind? One does not have to be an Einstein to guess the answer. There is no monetary returns for the research / clinical trials / clinical usage of these drugs. Unless carefully planned studies are conducted, these drugs will be soon shoved to the corner and made invisible to the doctors and patients!
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