Low-dose Chemotherapy

Low-dose Chemotherapy

Low-dose chemotherapy is being explored and employed in cancer treatment to mitigate the adverse effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. Traditionally, oncologists have administered the highest tolerable doses to eradicate cancer cells, often leading to severe bodily reactions and increased susceptibility to infections.

Several forms of low-dose chemotherapy have been proposed, although they may not be widely available in hospital settings:

1. Oral low-dose chemotherapy

Patients are administered chemotherapy drugs orally at frequent intervals. This method can be highly effective for certain cancers and may reduce side effects for some individuals. The utilization of oral chemotherapy is increasingly prevalent.

2. Low-dose chemotherapy with antiangiogenesis

Adam Dicker, an associate professor at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, advocates for reevaluating chemotherapy strategies. He suggests that low-dose chemotherapy, administered more frequently than conventional approaches, may exhibit potent antiangiogenic effects, as evidenced by promising laboratory results.

3. Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) low-dose chemotherapy

While still under investigation, proponents of insulin potentiation therapy propose that insulin enhances cancer cell susceptibility to chemotherapy. Cancer cells produce their own insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which promote nutrient consumption and tumor growth. With significantly more insulin and IGF receptors on their membranes than normal cells, cancer cells can be targeted by synthetic insulin. When insulin is administered, cancer cells become glucose-starved, increasing enzyme activity that facilitates chemotherapy drug penetration. Advocates of IPT believe this approach delivers chemotherapy directly into cancer cells while sparing normal cells.

It's crucial to differentiate between insulin therapy and IPT low-dose chemotherapy. Insulin therapy modulates nutrient transportation throughout the body and has been attempted in various contexts with mixed results. In biological cancer therapies, insulin potentiation therapy can be utilized to administer mandelonitrile (B17) as a precursor to IPT low-dose chemotherapy.