Abstract 3246: Phytotherapy boosts innate immunity to maximize cancer survival

Abstract

Abstract We studied surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in animals and found all these modalities suppressed cancer growth but they also impaired the immune functions of the animal host. We also studied phytotherapy (use of plant chemicals) and found it to have no side effects and with more lasting benefits. Using in vitro cell culture system with both malignant and non-malignant cells, and immune cells (macrophages and natural killer cells), we compared crude extract of Pacific yew and the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel derived from Pacific yew. The crude extract or the drug was incubated separately with: human malignant ovarian cells, nonmalignant ovarian cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT (methylthiazol tetrazolium) assay. Results show the drug damaged all these four types of cells while the crude plant extract only damaged the cancer cells showing its selective toxicity for cancer cells. Study with other phytochemicals also shows selective toxicity for cancer cells while enhancing the activities of immune cells. Phytotherapy is thus a non-toxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In our clinical observation, 160 men and women diagnosed with five types of cancer (72 with breast cancer, 28 with prostate cancer, 18 with colon cancer, 14 with lung cancer, 28 with ovarian cancer) chose to use phytotherapy (a plant-based diet) plus lifestyle modification. The five year survival of these patients were 90%, 89%, 83%, 86%, and 82%, respectively. Compared with five year survival data from National Cancer Institute (www.seer.cancer.gov) for these five types of cancer: 82%, 50%, 62%, 15%, and 45%, respectively, the phytotherapy group exhibits greater cancer survival. Since numerous studies have now revealed that cancer is attributable to our lifestyle habits – the way we eat, and the way we live, our data suggest that regardless of treatment choices, a change in diet and lifestyle is likely to improve cancer survival. Citation Format: Benjamin H. Lau. Phytotherapy boosts innate immunity to maximize cancer survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3246.