Hi,
Came across this article and thought I would share it with everyone.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s002800170008
Abstract:
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of an additive therapy with an oral enzyme (OE) preparation given for more than 6 months additionally to standard combination chemotherapy (vincristine/melphalan/cyclophosphamide/prednisone (VMCP)- or methylprednisolone/vincristine/CCNU/cyclophosphamide/melphalan (MOCCA)-regimen) in the primary treatment of patients with multiple myeloma stages I–III.
Methods: A cohort of 265 patients with multiple myeloma stages I–III was consecutively treated at our institution in two parallel groups (control group (n=99): chemotherapy ±OE for less than 6 months; OE-group (n=166): chemotherapy + OE for more than 6 months). The median follow-up time in the stages I, II, and III for the OE-group was 61, 37, and 46.5 months, respectively; for the control group the respective values were 33, 51.5, and 31.5 months. The primary endpoint of the study was disease-specific survival. Secondary endpoints were response to therapy, duration of first response and side effects. The chosen method for evaluation was the technique of a retrolective cohort analysis with a concurrent control group. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis was done with the Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: Significantly higher overall response rates and longer duration of remissions were observed in the OE-group. Primary responders showed a longer mean survival time than non-responders. Additive therapy with OE given for more than 6 months decreased the hazard of death for patients at all stages of disease by approximately 60%. Observation time was not long enough to estimate the median survival for patients at stages I and II; for stage III patients it was 47 months in the control group versus 83 months for the patients treated with OE (P=0.0014) which means a 3-year gain of survival time. Significant prognostic factors for survival, in the Cox regression analysis, were stage of disease and therapy with OE. The OE-therapy was generally well tolerated (3.6% of patients with mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms).
Conclusion: OEs represent a promising new additive therapy in multiple myeloma which will be further evaluated in a randomized phase III trial in the USA.
Forums
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
Proteolytic (or pancreatic) enzymes are also the essence of the metabolic program of Nicholas Gonzales - an alternative practitioner based in New York City. He is controversial to say the least -- but many patients swear he is a miracle worker who has cured them.
Gonzales adapted his program from Wiliam Kelley, who decades ago treated many chronic and degenerative dieseases, including cancer - sometimes with apparent stunning success.
Although supplements of panacreatic enzymes (i.e, proteolytic enzymes) are the main therapeutic agent of the Gonzales/Kelley program, it also includes a massive amount of supplements: Along with the enzymes, it is not atypical for a patient to gulp down 200-300 pills and assorted extracts a day, and the enzymes have to be timed so they are not taken with meals so they can target the surface of cancer cells and not simply aid digestion.
In addition to enzymes and supplements, the Gonzales program - like that of Kelley - has two other components: a customized diet based on your type of cancer and metabolic profile; and extensive detoxification protocols, including twice-daily coffee enemas, to flush, cleanse and optimize organs such as the gall bladder, pancreas, and liver.
As I understand the program, if Gonzales accepts you, the initial outlay is $4000 for an initial 3-4 hour workup spanning 2 days. But the cost of supplements and enzymes can run you another $800 a month, and then there are 6-month follow-up visits in NYC that will run you more at least another $2000 a year.
Now for those with resources, money is obviously not the guiding factor for a long-term benefit. But I do wonder whether his approach is nothing more than a common sense adjunct therapy: proper diet and deoxification -- and that supplementing your daily regimen with enzymes (such as the Wobe-Mugus extract described in the link abobe) might be a much more manageable approach at a small fraction of the cost.
Incidentally, the theory behind using proteolytic enzymes is more than 100 years old and traces basck to studies of placental development by John Beard, a Professor at the University of Edinburgh in 1902 . It is provocative - and I reproduce it here from an article by Gonzales and his co-practitioner, Linda Isaacs:
"The enzyme treatment of cancer has a long history, beginning with the work of Dr John Beard, a professor at the University of Edinburgh who in 1902 first proposed that the pancreatic proteolytic enzyme trypsin might represent a powerful anti-cancer tool. Beard, an embryologist, detoured into cancer research as a result of his studies of the mammalian placenta and its similarity to malignant tumors.
Beard was the first to report that in many respects, the placenta in its early form behaves like a tumor. It begins growing as a very undifferentiated offshoot from the primitive embryo, then
quickly invades the mother’s uterus, much as a tumor infiltrates host tissue in any organ. Initially, the cells of the placenta proliferate almost without control, as tumors were known to do even in Beard’s day, and it quite efficiently produces a dense blood supply — a requirement for any rapidly growing malignancy, as angiogenesis research today has made clear.
As normal development proceeds, however, at some predetermined point, the placenta transforms from a highly invasive, rapidly growing, blood vessel–producing, tumor-like tissue, to the non-invasive, non-proliferating mature organ. The only difference between the placenta and a malignant growth, Beard claimed, is that the placenta knows when to stop growing, and tumors don’t. Beard concluded that the key to the change lay in the embryonic pancreas.
As witnessed in every species he studied, the day the placenta stops its cancer-like invasion of the mother is the very day the embryonic pancreas becomes active and begins pouring out enzymes."
Gonzales adapted his program from Wiliam Kelley, who decades ago treated many chronic and degenerative dieseases, including cancer - sometimes with apparent stunning success.
Although supplements of panacreatic enzymes (i.e, proteolytic enzymes) are the main therapeutic agent of the Gonzales/Kelley program, it also includes a massive amount of supplements: Along with the enzymes, it is not atypical for a patient to gulp down 200-300 pills and assorted extracts a day, and the enzymes have to be timed so they are not taken with meals so they can target the surface of cancer cells and not simply aid digestion.
In addition to enzymes and supplements, the Gonzales program - like that of Kelley - has two other components: a customized diet based on your type of cancer and metabolic profile; and extensive detoxification protocols, including twice-daily coffee enemas, to flush, cleanse and optimize organs such as the gall bladder, pancreas, and liver.
As I understand the program, if Gonzales accepts you, the initial outlay is $4000 for an initial 3-4 hour workup spanning 2 days. But the cost of supplements and enzymes can run you another $800 a month, and then there are 6-month follow-up visits in NYC that will run you more at least another $2000 a year.
Now for those with resources, money is obviously not the guiding factor for a long-term benefit. But I do wonder whether his approach is nothing more than a common sense adjunct therapy: proper diet and deoxification -- and that supplementing your daily regimen with enzymes (such as the Wobe-Mugus extract described in the link abobe) might be a much more manageable approach at a small fraction of the cost.
Incidentally, the theory behind using proteolytic enzymes is more than 100 years old and traces basck to studies of placental development by John Beard, a Professor at the University of Edinburgh in 1902 . It is provocative - and I reproduce it here from an article by Gonzales and his co-practitioner, Linda Isaacs:
"The enzyme treatment of cancer has a long history, beginning with the work of Dr John Beard, a professor at the University of Edinburgh who in 1902 first proposed that the pancreatic proteolytic enzyme trypsin might represent a powerful anti-cancer tool. Beard, an embryologist, detoured into cancer research as a result of his studies of the mammalian placenta and its similarity to malignant tumors.
Beard was the first to report that in many respects, the placenta in its early form behaves like a tumor. It begins growing as a very undifferentiated offshoot from the primitive embryo, then
quickly invades the mother’s uterus, much as a tumor infiltrates host tissue in any organ. Initially, the cells of the placenta proliferate almost without control, as tumors were known to do even in Beard’s day, and it quite efficiently produces a dense blood supply — a requirement for any rapidly growing malignancy, as angiogenesis research today has made clear.
As normal development proceeds, however, at some predetermined point, the placenta transforms from a highly invasive, rapidly growing, blood vessel–producing, tumor-like tissue, to the non-invasive, non-proliferating mature organ. The only difference between the placenta and a malignant growth, Beard claimed, is that the placenta knows when to stop growing, and tumors don’t. Beard concluded that the key to the change lay in the embryonic pancreas.
As witnessed in every species he studied, the day the placenta stops its cancer-like invasion of the mother is the very day the embryonic pancreas becomes active and begins pouring out enzymes."
-
Dan D
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
I am a patient of Dr. Isaacs, who works with Dr. Gonzalez in New York City. I use his protocol of diet, supplements, pancreatic enzymes, and detoxification.
It works. No drugs.
The 6 month visits are $850, not $2,000.
It works. No drugs.
The 6 month visits are $850, not $2,000.
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
Hi Dee,
Can you elaborate on your specific results regarding why "it works"? Have your numbers actually improved over time using this protocol?
Can you elaborate on your specific results regarding why "it works"? Have your numbers actually improved over time using this protocol?
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
My last blood work showed my kidneys creat went to .8 with my GFRs in the 90s. They were not that good at diagnosis. (They had at one time before this protocol been at 2.7 and GFRs in the 30's.
My hemoglobin number has increase, with no drugs.
At this time I am not doing any more blood work till April.
My IgA has increased but to understand how the cancer dies it makes sense.
As explained above, the pancreatic enzymes digest the outer shell of the cancer cells. The thick covering that protects them from the immune system so it does not recognize it. Once the coating is digested the immune system attacks it and as it kills the cancer cells they released the cancer marker, in my case the IgA. Since my red blood cells and hemoglobin has improved, that tells me the cancer is getting less.
In April the IgA should be lower and I will be happy to share at that time what has happened.
There are plenty of studies using pancreatic enzymes for cancer by the NCI including multiple myeloma.
In these studies they did not use the same enzymes Dr. Gonzalez uses, he has perfected his and it not sold publicly. Also they didn't use the dosage he uses, they were not on a diet specifically for the patient and cancer, they were not detoxing, yet even using the weaker enzymes the patients with multiple myeloma had a considerable increase in survival time.
With Dr. Gonzalez's protocol, multiple myeloma patients get better. They are still alive and doing well 10 plus years, dying of old age and not of cancer.
The cancer does not return as long as the patients continue the pancreatic enzymes at a maintenance dose and stay with their diet.
With blood cancers they have found patients do well with a carnivore diet. They have 10 different diets. Thru the hair analysis I was found to be a moderate carnivore. No greens, red meat 2-3 times a day, no more then one fruit a day if any, root veggies or cruciferous veggies. No sugar, I use Stevia and a little honey, molasses or maple syrup (the real thing). No more then 2 slices of whole grain bread a day. All organic and grass fed of course.
I forgot to mention I am stronger. I am lifting heavier weights at the YMCA. My muscle mass has improved. I can walk a very fast pace on the tread mill up hill for about a hour with out tiring.
It has been a year since diagnosis and other then trying Revlimid for about 4 months at 10mg and no dex which brought my IgA down a little but that is all, since doing this protocol I feel so MUCH better.
I need to add I just started the middle of October on this protocol of this year, 2013.
My hemoglobin number has increase, with no drugs.
At this time I am not doing any more blood work till April.
My IgA has increased but to understand how the cancer dies it makes sense.
As explained above, the pancreatic enzymes digest the outer shell of the cancer cells. The thick covering that protects them from the immune system so it does not recognize it. Once the coating is digested the immune system attacks it and as it kills the cancer cells they released the cancer marker, in my case the IgA. Since my red blood cells and hemoglobin has improved, that tells me the cancer is getting less.
In April the IgA should be lower and I will be happy to share at that time what has happened.
There are plenty of studies using pancreatic enzymes for cancer by the NCI including multiple myeloma.
In these studies they did not use the same enzymes Dr. Gonzalez uses, he has perfected his and it not sold publicly. Also they didn't use the dosage he uses, they were not on a diet specifically for the patient and cancer, they were not detoxing, yet even using the weaker enzymes the patients with multiple myeloma had a considerable increase in survival time.
With Dr. Gonzalez's protocol, multiple myeloma patients get better. They are still alive and doing well 10 plus years, dying of old age and not of cancer.
The cancer does not return as long as the patients continue the pancreatic enzymes at a maintenance dose and stay with their diet.
With blood cancers they have found patients do well with a carnivore diet. They have 10 different diets. Thru the hair analysis I was found to be a moderate carnivore. No greens, red meat 2-3 times a day, no more then one fruit a day if any, root veggies or cruciferous veggies. No sugar, I use Stevia and a little honey, molasses or maple syrup (the real thing). No more then 2 slices of whole grain bread a day. All organic and grass fed of course.
I forgot to mention I am stronger. I am lifting heavier weights at the YMCA. My muscle mass has improved. I can walk a very fast pace on the tread mill up hill for about a hour with out tiring.
It has been a year since diagnosis and other then trying Revlimid for about 4 months at 10mg and no dex which brought my IgA down a little but that is all, since doing this protocol I feel so MUCH better.
I need to add I just started the middle of October on this protocol of this year, 2013.
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
Hi Dee777, Sounds like you are experiencing a good feeling of well being and it's great that your hemoglobin levels have improved too. I felt much better too when my blood markers returned to the normal ranges.
On the topic of your myeloma, would you be able to followed using the standard tests such as SPEP and Serum Free Light Chain testing? Probably you would need a haematological oncologist to follow you for this. That could give you a better picture of what is happening with your myeloma too.
Best wishes and Happy New Year!
On the topic of your myeloma, would you be able to followed using the standard tests such as SPEP and Serum Free Light Chain testing? Probably you would need a haematological oncologist to follow you for this. That could give you a better picture of what is happening with your myeloma too.
Best wishes and Happy New Year!
-
Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
No. I had an oncologist at one time. He said if I didn't continue with the Revlimid he didn't want to see me.
Dr. Isaacs is following me. I am not sure he even used those tests. As long as my blood work is in normal range that is good for me.
I trust the protocol, if I had doubts I would not do it and neither would I expect any one that would. How ever, considering the drugs or SCTs do not cure, especially since I have the 4:14 translocation, 13 and 8 deletions, I am high risk and treatment resistant which means my survival is very short. My oncologist assured me over and over one phone call "There is no cure!"
Considering a year with but a short and low dosage of one drug, I am doing very well. If I had jumped the SCT and drug wagon I am pretty sure I would have no life, and preparing for my likely close end of life.
Instead, I am living a life with NO side effects, NO infections, NO limitations, and full of energy.
The reason for more tests you mention, because you are concerned that it doesn't work and I wasted, what? I am afraid the trade off has treated me very well.
I will update periodically how I am doing on the protocol.
Dr. Isaacs is following me. I am not sure he even used those tests. As long as my blood work is in normal range that is good for me.
I trust the protocol, if I had doubts I would not do it and neither would I expect any one that would. How ever, considering the drugs or SCTs do not cure, especially since I have the 4:14 translocation, 13 and 8 deletions, I am high risk and treatment resistant which means my survival is very short. My oncologist assured me over and over one phone call "There is no cure!"
Considering a year with but a short and low dosage of one drug, I am doing very well. If I had jumped the SCT and drug wagon I am pretty sure I would have no life, and preparing for my likely close end of life.
Instead, I am living a life with NO side effects, NO infections, NO limitations, and full of energy.
The reason for more tests you mention, because you are concerned that it doesn't work and I wasted, what? I am afraid the trade off has treated me very well.
I will update periodically how I am doing on the protocol.
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
I have to admit that I am always highly suspicious of doctors that utilize expensive, proprietary formulations that one can only get through their practice. I will be very curious how your numbers turn out later in 2014 and I will keep an open mind about this treatment protocol in the meantime.
Best of luck and wishing you well in the new year Dee!
Best of luck and wishing you well in the new year Dee!
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
Are you talking about oncologists Multibilly? I am suspicious also how they can only dispense chemo and set the price, seems a bit suspicious doesn't it? They tell you your diagnosis and treatment and then charge for the medications, wow.
And the costs of the drugs and SCTs are a lot more then what Dr. Gonzalez charges by the way. The only difference is insurance won't cover their bills. Something needs to change with the way insurance companies are in bed with the drug companies.
And the costs of the drugs and SCTs are a lot more then what Dr. Gonzalez charges by the way. The only difference is insurance won't cover their bills. Something needs to change with the way insurance companies are in bed with the drug companies.
Re: Proteolytic (pancreatic) enzymes with multiple myeloma
While the cost of conventional chemo wasn't my point (I was referring to Dr. Gonzalez' proprietary formulations), there's no arguing that the cost of conventional chemo for cancer patients in general needs to be addressed. The current cost of chemo in the United States continues to be completely unrealistic and can easily bankrupt a family in no time flat, even for those that have the new insurance plans and protections under the ACA of 2010.
Anyway, my original point is that while I am somewhat skeptical of Dr. Gonzalez' approach, I am not dismissing it out of hand and I truly hope that it works for you.
So, please don't take my comments in the wrong light Dee. A year or two ago, I would have dismissed Dr. Gonzalez without a second thought. I have since become far more receptive to the validity of alternative medicine. I now religiously take a lot of supplements and eat a nearly 100% organic diet...but I likely won't know for quite some time if these efforts will hold my disease at bay. And I think many on this site already know my general opinion of SCTs
Getting back to the topic of chemo costs, you may find this article to be a good read.
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/early/2013/04/23/blood-2013-03-490003.full.pdf
Happy New Year to you!
Anyway, my original point is that while I am somewhat skeptical of Dr. Gonzalez' approach, I am not dismissing it out of hand and I truly hope that it works for you.
So, please don't take my comments in the wrong light Dee. A year or two ago, I would have dismissed Dr. Gonzalez without a second thought. I have since become far more receptive to the validity of alternative medicine. I now religiously take a lot of supplements and eat a nearly 100% organic diet...but I likely won't know for quite some time if these efforts will hold my disease at bay. And I think many on this site already know my general opinion of SCTs
Getting back to the topic of chemo costs, you may find this article to be a good read.
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/early/2013/04/23/blood-2013-03-490003.full.pdf
Happy New Year to you!
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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