Cancer

Dr Raths discoveries and our research set up new therapeutic directions and present a
real chance to control cancer, all of which had not been possible with conventional
medicine approaches. We have demonstrated that a specific combination of natural
substances (vitamins, amino acids, polyphenols and other micronutrients) working in
biological synergy can successfully control critical aspects of malignancy in our body,
such as:
- Curtail metastasis (the spread of cancer to other organs)
- Inhibit tumor growth
- Decrease tumor angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels feeding tumors)
- Trigger natural death of cancer cells through apoptosis.

Our research based on Dr Raths discovery focuses on a common pathological

mechanism in all types of cancers which is the degradation of collagen and other
components of connective tissue. Enzymatic destruction of this tissue which surrounds
and binds all cells in our body together is essential for cancer cells to migrate in the
tissue and spread to other organs in the body. Activity of connective tissue digestive
enzymes correlates with cancer aggressiveness.

Natural control this common pathology is the foundation of our

success in cancer
Scope of cancer

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases affecting mankind. It is the second leading cause
of death in the industrialized countries and a significant health burden in other countries in the
world. Decades of scientific and clinical research conducted at leading institutions worldwide
have achieved marginal progress in managing this disease and a cure for it is not even in sight.

What do we know about cancer

Cancer is characterized by a continuous proliferation of undifferentiated cells that tend to invade
surrounding tissue and metastasize to new body sites. Over one hundred types of cancer have
been classified. The tissue of origin gives the cancer distinguishing characteristics, and
approximately 85% of cancers occur in cells of epithelial origin and are classified as
carcinomas. Cancers derived from mesodermal cells, such as bone and muscle cells, are called
sarcomas and cancers of glandular tissues, e.g., breast tissue, are called adenocarcinomas.
In many cases cancer develops as a result of exposure to radiation, viruses, and various

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chemical toxins, including certain medical drugs. About 50-75% of cancers have been
recognized as preventable since they are triggered by factors that can be avoided, such as
improper diets, micronutrient deficiencies or environmental pollutants.
Although there is a great diversity of these causative agents, the end cellular response is
always the same - the production of cells with the following characteristic which applies to most,
if not all, cancers.
1. Independent growth: Cancer cells multiply independently and at a different rate
compared to neighboring cells
2. Unlimited growth potential. Cancer cells lack biological signals which regulate and limit
their multiplication
3. Immortality of cancer cells. Due to an error in the genetic program which determines
the time of cell death (apoptosis) cancer cells do not die like all normal cells in the body which
have a limited life span
4. An ability to trigger growth of new blood vessels (Angiogenesis). Cancer cells send
biological signals that trigger formation of new blood vessels essential to support tumor growth
5. Invasion in the tissue and metastasis to other organs. Cancer expansion is possible
because malignancy triggers uncontrolled digestion of collagen and connective tissue paving
the way for cancer cells to invade and spread.

Conventional therapies
The majority of current therapies are not cancer-specific and do not curtail the spread of cancer
to different organs. They are based on the use of highly toxic chemical agents (chemotherapy)
and radiation (radiotherapy). Both treatments generate serious side effects, organ damage and
secondary cancers. As a result, these treatments have not been successful in controlling cancer
and on the contrary, many cancers are increasing.
Comprehensive review of the effectiveness of chemotherapy in 22 types of cancer has shown
that these highly toxic treatments increase a chance for five-year survival by merely 2.1% and in
many types of cancer, chemotherapy does not offer any benefits (Clinical Oncology 2004).

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The basis of chemotherapy and radiation is the destruction of rapidly dividing cells, such as
cancer cells. However, these treatments do not discriminate between healthy and abnormal
(cancer) cells. As a result they also damage cells in healthy organs that have a high renewal
rate and are frequently dividing, such as the cells of bone marrow, skin, the intestinal lining and
many other organs. Therefore a frequent consequence of these therapies is anemia and
weakening of the immune system further impairing the elimination of cancer cells. Intestinal
bleeding triggered by these therapies impairs the absorption of nutrients and contributes to
diminishing the bodys natural ability to fight cancer. The consequence of the administration of
such powerful chemical toxins or radiation is damage to the genetic machinery of the cells, the
DNA, leading to development of new cancers. These interventions also activate the secretion of
enzymes that facilitate the release of cancer cells from the surrounding connective tissue
accelerating the spread of cancer to other organs. Chemotherapy often fails since many cancer
cells develop resistance to these toxic agents.
In this situation approximately 80% of patients diagnosed with cancer seek alternative
therapies, which include antioxidants and other essential nutrients.

Deadlock in conventional cancer research

Despite the fact that 90% of deaths from cancer result from metastasis, pharmaceutical
research has largely ignored this fact. As reported by the New York Times in 2007 there are
less than 100 research groups worldwide which are researching metastasis.
The reason for this can be found by understanding the principles of the pharmaceutical
business, which builds its profits from the existence of diseases as a market for their patented
drugs. As such, pharmaceutical research works towards developing novel, synthetic
components which can be protected by patents. In many cases natural compounds have been
chemically modified in order to make them eligible for patent protection (ie. tamoxifen) .
Additionally, since these substances are toxic do the body cells and generate various side
effects they create the needs for new drugs to deal with these health problems. This further
expands drug business markets resulting with the lack of incentives for changing the system.
World wide pharmaceutical drug market is $550 billion business.
In contrast, the focus and direction of research at the Dr Rath Research Institute has been on
finding effective health solutions using natural, non-patentable, safe and effective approaches in
combating cancer.

Cellular Medicines Novel Approach in Cancer Research:

New Concept

In 1990 Dr. Rath presented a new research approach that can lead to effective control of the
growth and spread of cancer. This research focus is on strengthening the integrity of a natural
barrier made of collagen and other connective tissue elements which surround all cells,

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including cancer cells. In order to grow and spread to other organs every type of cancer cells
have to disintegrate (digest) this natural collagen and connective tissue barrier with the help of
specific enzymes. To halt this collagen digestion process, Dr Rath proposed the use of natural
components, vitamin C and the amino acid lysine.

A. Why is cancer difficult to control? Importance of collagen damage:

The main reason cancer is so difficult to control is that it adapts to the bodys natural
mechanisms to expand in the tissue and relocate to other organs.

Most cells in the body are capable of producing enzymes that dissolve the surrounding collagen
and connective tissue (collagenases, proteinases). In a healthy body this ability is essential for
maintaining normal body function, tissue repair and restructuring. For instance, enzymatic
degradation of connective tissue forms an integral part of immune system effectiveness (i.e.,
allows for migration of white blood cells to infection sites), the function of reproductive organs
(release of an egg in the female monthly cycle, remodeling of breast and uterine tissue
occurring in pregnancy and lactation) and during growth. This collagen dissolving mechanism is
well controlled in a health body.
However, the same mechanism shifts out of control in a disease condition, such as cancer. In
this case a persistent secretion of collagen destroying enzymes by cancer cells leads to tissue
degradation facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. In addition, uncontrolled collagen
dissolving accompanies other pathologies, such as chronic inflammation (arthritis, asthma,
atherosclerosis), infections (destruction of connective tissue facilitates spread of microbial

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agents) and in many other conditions. (For more information, please click here .)
In the case of cancer, the importance of controlling connective tissue destruction mechanism
has been confirmed by Danish researchers using a transgenic mouse model. Their study has
shown that genetically modified mice which are unable to produce the enzyme urokinase which
is needed to degrade collagen, have a limited ability to form cancer metastasis. ( K. Almholt et
al., Reduced metastasis of transgenic mammary cancer in urokinase deficient mice, Int J
Cancer 2005; 113(4): 525-532
)

There are many enzymes involved in digesting connective tissue proteins, such as plasmin,
urokinase and various types of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The main enzymes
associated with malignancy are MMP 2 and MMP 9. Their activity has been linked to the
aggressiveness of cancer. Interestingly, tissues which have natural remodeling potential and
therefore can produce large quantities of these collagen digesting enzymes (i.e., tissues in the
breasts, ovaries, and bone marrow) have a high susceptibility to develop cancer. Dr Rath has
provided an explanation to this phenomenon
.

Effective Cancer Control Through Nutrient Synergy

Although various natural substances such as vitamin C, green tea polyphenols and others have
shown anti-cancer activity, their effectiveness has been limited to selected cellular mechanisms.
In addition, they have to be used in very high doses which are possible only through
intravenous delivery.
Our approach has been based on a synergy of individual components that allows for controlling
multiple cancer mechanisms at once and achieving better physiological effects without using
large doses of individual components. While this synergy approach assures the preservation of
metabolic balance, the mega-doses of individual components can often unmask underlying
micronutrient deficiencies and aggravate metabolic problems and, as such, should be avoided.

A. Nutrient Synergy in Controlling Multiple Cancer Mechanisms at Once:

We have developed a specific synergistic combination of nutrients that can inhibit invasion of

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cancer cells in the tissue and control other key mechanisms of cancer at the same time. This
synergy utilizes vitamin C, the amino acids lysine, proline, arginine, N acetylcysteine, green tea
extract (NM) as well as copper, manganese and selenium.
Using both in vitro and in vivo approaches, we provided comprehensive scientific data that this
nutrient synergy can:
1. Inhibit tumor growth and cancer metastasis:
The following relevant mechanisms have been affected by this nutrient synergy
- Inhibition of secretion and expression of MMPs curtailing connective tissue digestion
- Inhibition of cancer cells invasion in the tissue (confirmed in almost 40 types of cancer
cells)
- Optimizing composition of connective tissue towards increasing its integrity and
resistance to degradation
- Decreased cell multiplication resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth.

As a result we demonstrated in vivo that the spread (metastasis) of cancer cells can be largely
inhibited by the administration of nutrient synergy in the diet or by iv and ip delivery.

2. Inhibit angiogenesis by:

The following relevant mechanisms have been affected by this nutrient synergy
- Decreased secretion of pro-angiogenic factors (i.e., VEGF, angiopoetin)
- Decreased blood tubules formation
- Decreased blood vessel branches formation.

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3. Induce natural cancer cell death (apoptosis)

The following relevant mechanisms have been affected by this nutrient synergy
-

Induction of pro-apoptotic genes (p53, p21, Bax)

Inhibition of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl1)
Influx of intracellular calcium
Shift in cell cycle towards cell cycle arrest (G1 phase)

4. Decrease inflammation
The following relevant mechanisms have been affected by this nutrient synergy
- Impaired secretion of various pro-inflammatory factors, which have been implicated in the
induction and progression of cancer

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B. Nutrient Synergy in Prevention of Cancers Induced by Chemicals.

1. Inhibition of breast tumors. Significant reduction in the appearance (78% decreased
tumor weight) and growth (68% decrease) of mammary tumors induced by N-methyl
N-nitrosourea tumors in female rats. In addition, all tumors developed in a group of rats taking
micronutrient supplementation were benign (adenomas), while in a control groups all were
adenocarcinomas. (For more information, please
click here
.)
2. Inhibition of skin tumor (papilloma) by DMBA (7,12-dimethylbezanthracene) in female
mice. In the presence of nutrient synergy in a diet the number of papillomas decreased by 85%.
(For more information, please
click here .)
3. Inhibition of lung cancer by urethane in mice. In the presence of nutrient synergy in a
diet the number of lung tumors decreased by 50%.(For more information, please
click here
.)

C. Nutrient Synergy Applied at the Later Stages of Chemically-induced

Breast Cancer
Nutrient synergy has shown to be more effective than green tea extract when administered in a
diet in animals who have already developed breast tumors. In addition, in the presence of
nutrient synergy there was a significant decrease in the number of malignant versus benign
tumors. (in preparation for publication)
Nutrient Synergy - safety. Contrary to chemotherapy toxins, radiation and various
pharmaceutical drugs, nutrients are safe even in higher doses. Moreover, they are needed by
all cells in the body, immune system cells, thereby supporting the entire bodys ability to fight
cancer.
Anti-cancer activity of this nutrient synergy has been confirmed in a number of studies both in
vivo and in vitro published in numerous scientific publications. Please select a title below to read
the respective research study.

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