How to Fight Cancer – The Dogs To The Rescue
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have treated cancer in dogs, and this may lead to a new strategy on how to fight cancer in people as well.
At the 237th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Joseph A. Bauer, PhD presented findings, building on more than 60-years of research effort to developing a B12 based attack against cancer.
The story starts with a dog by the name of Oscar, a ten year old Bichon Frise who unfortunately had an aggressive type of cancer known as anal sac adenocarcinoma.
After the standard chemotherapy and radiation, and with no improvement, poor Oscar was left unable to walk and with only three months to live.
As a last hope, Oscar was given a potentially cancer killing medicine known as nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl for short).
Within 14 days his condition had improved and he was back on his feet.
The compound has been given to other dogs since with good results and no negative side effects. This compound targets cancer cells like the fabled “Trojan horse”, a way to cause damage, but delivered by being hidden inside something that looks harmless.
The medication is made of nitric oxide that’s attached to vitamin B12. Researchers know that receptors on cell surfaces will attract the vitamin and assist it in getting into the cell.
Cancer cells have more B12 receptors; and so the unsuspecting cancer cell takes in this compound. Once inside, the nitric oxide is released and the cell dies.
Bauer’s team is using ultrasound and MRI imaging to keep an eye on tumor size in all three of the dogs currently under treatment.
Following 9 months of NO-Cbl the spinal tumor of a 6 year old golden retriever, Buddy, has reduced by 40%, and an inoperable thyroid cancer of a 13 year old female giant schnauzer by 77% in just ten weeks of treatment.
A fourth dog, Haley, also a golden retriever, is being treated for a spinal tumor. Once the team successfully treats ten dogs with the drug, they’ll try for FDA approval to test the medication in people.
Bauer believes firmly that what works in these animals holds promise for treating their humans as well.
He points out that people and dogs are genetically similar – enough to make a successful case for approval from the FDA.
Interesting to know that the National Cancer Institute has data on pets.
After all, they breathe the same air we do; drink the same water we do and eat processed foods just like we do.
“We are one of the few research groups that is offering to treat dogs with cancer that otherwise have no hope,” Bauer points out. “With no other options available, most people in this situation opt to euthanize so that their pets don’t go through the pain of disease and trauma of surgery.”
The good news for dog owners is that this new method may also offers hope for a faithful friend who might be one of the estimated 6 million dogs in the U.S. alone diagnosed with cancer each year.
It’s a rare thing for research to uncover a treatment that can be used for animals, and yet holds realistic promise for people as well.
Next – just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on how to fight cancer, plus for a limited time get 5 free fantastic health reports. Click here for the automated video on this study on how to fight cancer.
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