Serum Nagalase Activity Research Articles

Retraction note to: immunotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer with vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor, GcMAF.

Serum vitamin D binding protein (Gc protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage-activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of colorectal cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein is deglycosylated by serum α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be converted to MAF, leading to immunosuppression. Stepwise treatment of purified Gc protein with immobilized β-galactosidase and sialidase generated the most potent macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) ever discovered, but it produces no side effect in humans. Macrophages treated with GcMAF (100 pg/ml) develop an enormous variation of receptors and are highly tumoricidal to a variety of cancers indiscriminately. Administration of 100 nanogram (ng)/human maximally activates systemic macrophages that can kill cancerous cells. Since the half-life of the activated macrophages is approximately 6 days, 100 ng GcMAF was administered weekly to eight nonanemic colorectal cancer patients who had previously received tumor-resection but still carried significant amounts of metastatic tumor cells. As GcMAF therapy progressed, the MAF precursor activities of all patients increased and conversely their serum Nagalase activities decreased. Since serum Nagalase is proportional to tumor burden, serum Nagalase activity was used as a prognostic index for time course analysis of GcMAF therapy. After 32–50 weekly administrations of 100 ng GcMAF, all colorectal cancer patients exhibited healthy control levels of the serum Nagalase activity, indicating eradication of metastatic tumor cells. During 7 years after the completion of GcMAF therapy, their serum Nagalase activity did not increase, indicating no recurrence of cancer, which was also supported by the annual CT scans of these patients.

GC protein-derived macrophage-activating factor decreases α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase levels in advanced cancer patients

α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (nagalase) accumulates in the serum of cancer patients and its activity correlates with tumor burden, aggressiveness and clinical disease progression. The administration of GC protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) to cancer patients with elevated levels of nagalase has been associated with a decrease of serum nagalase activity and with significant clinical benefits. Here, we report the results of the administration of GcMAF to a heterogeneous cohort of patients with histologically diverse, advanced neoplasms, generally considered as “incurable” diseases. In most cases, GcMAF therapy was initiated at late stages of tumor progression. As this is an open-label, non-controlled, retrospective analysis, caution must be employed when establishing cause-effect relationships between the administration GcMAF and disease outcome. However, the response to GcMAF was generally robust and some trends emerged. All patients (n = 20) presented with elevated serum nagalase activity, well above normal values. All patients but one showed a significant decrease of serum nagalase activity upon weekly GcMAF injections. Decreased nagalase activity was associated with improved clinical conditions and no adverse side effects were reported. The observations reported here confirm and extend previous results and pave the way to further studies aimed at assessing the precise role and indications for GcMAF-based anticancer immunotherapy.

Initial Observations of Elevated Alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase Activity Associated with Autism and Observed Reductions from GC Protein—Macrophage Activating Factor Injections

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are developmental disorders affecting 1:88 children, and which appear to be associated with a variety of complex immune dysregulations including autoimmunity. The enzyme, alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) deglycosylates serum Gc protein (vitamin D 3 – binding protein) rendering it incapable of activating macrophage defenses. Increased Nagalase activity has been associated with a variety of malignancies, immune disorders and viral infections. Macrophage activating factor (GcMAF) has been repeatedly published as an intervention to lower serum Nagalase activity for a variety of cancer and HIV patients. GcMAF is a naturally occurring protein with well-established safety and therapeutic benefit(s) supported by numerous human studies. Methods: Initially, parents of 40 individuals with ASD sought testing for Nagalase serum activity as part of an evaluation of immune dysregulation. Nagalase enzyme activity measurement was performed by the European Laboratory of Nutrients (ELN), Bunnik, the Netherlands, using an end-point enzymatic assay of a chromogenic substrate. Some parents of patients with elevated Nagalase activity opted for weekly GcMAF injections provided by Immuno Biotech Ltd., Guernsey UK (www.gcmaf.eu). GcMAF is purified from human serum obtained from the American Red Cross using 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-Sepharose high affinity chromatography. The pro tein is then further diluted to obtain therapeutically appropriate levels for patients based on their clinical presentations. Results: Individuals with ASD (32 males and 8 females, n = 40, ages: 1 year 4 months - 21 years 2 months) had initial and post treatment assessment of Nagalase activity. Dosing of GcMAF was recommended based on previously reported response curves adjusted by the treating clinician for age, weight, and Nagalase levels. The average pre-treatment Nagalase activity of the autism group was 1.93 nmol/min/mg of substrate. This was well above the laboratory reported normal range of ,0.95 nmol/min/mg. For the ASD group the average level at the time of second testing was 1.03 nmol/min/mg, reflecting an average reduction of 0.90 nmol/min/mg ( P , 0.0001). Apart from the likely immunological benefits of lowering the Nagalase activity of these individuals, uncontrolled observations of GcMAF therapy indicated sub stantial improvements in language, socialization and cognition. No significant side-effects were reported during the course of injections. Conclusions: In this first report of Nagalase activity in patients with autism, it appears that most individuals have substantially higher levels than the expected healthy ranges. Although Nagalase is a nonspecific marker of immune dysregulation, its observed levels in autism may have both etiological and therapeutic significance. Importantly, this is also the first report of reduction of Nagalase activity in an autism population with GcMAF injections.

Abstract 5532: Immunotherapy of breast cancer with Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor, GcMAF

Abstract Serum Gc protein (known as vitamin D-binding protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein was deglycosylated by serum α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Thus, serum Nagalase activity is directly proportional to tumor burden. Macrophages of cancer patients having deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be activated. Since macrophage activation for phagocytosis and antigen-presentation to B cells and T cells is the first indispensable step for development of both humoral and cellular immunities, lack of macrophage activation leads to immunosuppression. Advanced cancer patients have high serum Nagalase activity, resulting in no macrophage activation and severe immunosuppression that explain why cancer patients die with overwhelming infection (e.g., pneumonia). Stepwise treatment of purified Gc protein with immobilized β-galactosidase and sialidase generated probably the most potent macrophage activating factor (termed GcMAF) ever discovered. Because GcMAF is structurally identical to the native human MAF, GcMAF produces no side effect in humans. Macrophages activated by GcMAF develop an enormous variation of receptors that recognize the abnormality in malignant cell surface and are highly tumoricidal to a variety of cancers indiscriminately. When human macrophages were treated in vitro with GcMAF (100 picogram/ml) for 3 hr and a breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was added with effector/target ratio of 1.5, 60% and 86% of MCF-7 cells were killed in 4 hr and 18 hr incubation, respectively. Administration of 100 nanogram (ng) GcMAF per human results in the maximal level of macrophage activation. Because the activated state of macrophages is approximately 6 days, sixteen breast cancer patients received weekly administration of 100 ng GcMAF. They regressed in biphasic pattern due to the mixed population of undifferentiated and differentiated cells. After 16-23 weekly administrations of GcMAF (100 ng/week), all sixteen patients had very low serum Nagalase levels equivalent to those of healthy control values, indicating that these patients are tumor free. No recurrence occurred for more than ten years. GcMAF also has a potent mitogenic capacity to act on the myeloid progenitor cells, resulting in a 40-fold increase in systemic macrophage cell counts in 4 days. Such highly activated systemic macrophages are chemotactically recruited to inflamed lesions by 180-fold increase of macrophage cell counts. Since intravenous administration of GcMAF allows a rapid interaction of GcMAF with myeloid progenitor cells in bone marrow, the systemic cell counts of the activated macrophages increased to more than 100-fold in 2 days. Weekly intravenous administration of 100 ng GcMAF to metastatic breast cancer patients (n=8) eradicates tumors in 7-15 weeks. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5532. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5532

Abstract 5531: Administration of the most potent macrophage activating factor, GcMAF, to cancer patients eradicates a variety of cancers indiscriminately

Abstract Intratumor BCG administration eradicates local as well as metastasized tumors (e.g., skin cancer). Administration of BCG into noncancerous tissues, however, results in no effect on the tumors. Inflammation induced by BCG in normal tissues releases lysophospholipids that activate macrophages. Because cancerous tissues contain alkylphospholipids, BCG-induced inflammation of cancerous tissues produces alkyl-lysophospholipids and alkylglycerols that activate macrophages approximately 400 times more effective than lysophospholipids, implying that highly activated macrophages are tumoricidal. Inflammation-primed macrophage activation is the principal macrophage activation process that requires serum Gc protein (known as vitamin D-binding protein) and participation of B and T lymphocytes. A trisaccharide composed of N-acetylgalactosamine with dibranched galactose and sialic acid termini at 420 threonine residue of Gc protein is hydrolyzed by the β-galactosidase (Bgl) of inflammation-primed B cells and the Neu-1 sialidase of T cells to yield the macrophage activating factor (MAF), the protein with N-acetylgalactoamine as the remaining sugar. Thus, Gc protein is the precursor for the principal MAF. However, the MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein is deglycosylated by serum α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Thus, serum Nagalase activity is proportional to tumor burden and serves as an excellent prognostic index. Deglycosylated serum Gc protein can not be converted to MAF, leading to immunosuppression. Stepwise treatment of purified serum Gc protein with immobilized β-galactosidase and sialidase generates probably the most potent MAF (termed GcMAF) ever discoverd that produces no side effect in humans. Intramuscular administration of 100 ng GcMAF activates systemic macrophages at maximal level with 100-fold increased ingestion index and 30-fold increased superoxide generating capacity in 6 hrs. These activated macrophages developed an enormous variation of receptors that recognize cell surface abnormality (known as tumor associated antigen, TAA) of a variety of cancer cells and become tumoricidal to a variety of cancers indiscriminately. When those cancer patients bearing breast, prostate, colorectal, stomach, liver, lung, esophagus, kidney, bladder, uterus or ovarian cancer, or melanoma, fibrosarcoma, leukemia, glioblastoma or mesothelioma were intramuscularly administered with 100 ng GcMAF/week, their tumors were eradicated in 16 – 54 weeks which is roughly proportional to their original tumor burden. The curative rate of adenocarcinomas is a biphasic pattern due to a mixture of highly undifferentiated and differentiated tumor cells while the curative rate of all other cancer types is linear. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5531. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5531

Retracted: Immunotherapy of HIV‐infected patients with Gc protein‐derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF)

Serum Gc protein (known as vitamin D3-binding protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of HIV-infected patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein is deglycosylated by alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from HIV-infected cells. Therefore, macrophages of HIV-infected patients having deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be activated, leading to immunosuppression. Since Nagalase is the intrinsic component of the envelope protein gp120, serum Nagalase activity is the sum of enzyme activities carried by both HIV virions and envelope proteins. These Nagalase carriers were already complexed with anti-HIV immunoglobulin G (IgG) but retained Nagalase activity that is required for infectivity. Stepwise treatment of purified Gc protein with immobilized beta-galactosidase and sialidase generated the most potent macrophage activating factor (termed GcMAF), which produces no side effects in humans. Macrophages activated by administration of 100 ng GcMAF develop a large amount of Fc-receptors as well as an enormous variation of receptors that recognize IgG-bound and unbound HIV virions. Since latently HIV-infected cells are unstable and constantly release HIV virions, the activated macrophages rapidly intercept the released HIV virions to prevent reinfection resulting in exhaustion of infected cells. After less than 18 weekly administrations of 100 ng GcMAF for nonanemic patients, they exhibited low serum Nagalase activities equivalent to healthy controls, indicating eradication of HIV-infection, which was also confirmed by no infectious center formation by provirus inducing agent-treated patient PBMCs. No recurrence occurred and their healthy CD + cell counts were maintained for 7 years.

Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer with Gc Protein-Derived Macrophage-Activating Factor, GcMAF

Serum Gc protein (known as vitamin D3-binding protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage-activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of prostate cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein was deglycosylated by serum á-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Therefore, macrophages of prostate cancer patients having deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be activated, leading to immunosuppression. Stepwise treatment of purified Gc protein with immobilized â-galactosidase and sialidase generated the most potent MAF (termed GcMAF) ever discovered, which produces no adverse effect in humans. Macrophages activated by GcMAF develop a considerable variation of receptors that recognize the abnormality in malignant cell surface and are highly tumoricidal. Sixteen nonanemic prostate cancer patients received weekly administration of 100 ng of GcMAF. As the MAF precursor activity increased, their serum Nagalase activity decreased. Because serum Nagalase activity is proportional to tumor burden, the entire time course analysis for GcMAF therapy was monitored by measuring the serum Nagalase activity. After 14 to 25 weekly administrations of GcMAF (100 ng/week), all 16 patients had very low serum Nagalase levels equivalent to those of healthy control values, indicating that these patients are tumor-free. No recurrence occurred for 7 years.

Immunotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer with vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor, GcMAF.

Serum vitamin D binding protein (Gc protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage-activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of colorectal cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein is deglycosylated by serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be converted to MAF, leading to immunosuppression. Stepwise treatment of purified Gc protein with immobilized beta-galactosidase and sialidase generated the most potent macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) ever discovered, but it produces no side effect in humans. Macrophages treated with GcMAF (100 microg/ml) develop an enormous variation of receptors and are highly tumoricidal to a variety of cancers indiscriminately. Administration of 100 nanogram (ng)/ human maximally activates systemic macrophages that can kill cancerous cells. Since the half-life of the activated macrophages is approximately 6 days, 100 ng GcMAF was administered weekly to eight nonanemic colorectal cancer patients who had previously received tumor-resection but still carried significant amounts of metastatic tumor cells. As GcMAF therapy progressed, the MAF precursor activities of all patients increased and conversely their serum Nagalase activities decreased. Since serum Nagalase is proportional to tumor burden, serum Nagalase activity was used as a prognostic index for time course analysis of GcMAF therapy. After 32-50 weekly administrations of 100 ng GcMAF, all colorectal cancer patients exhibited healthy control levels of the serum Nagalase activity, indicating eradication of metastatic tumor cells. During 7 years after the completion of GcMAF therapy, their serum Nagalase activity did not increase, indicating no recurrence of cancer, which was also supported by the annual CT scans of these patients.

Retracted: Immunotherapy of metastatic breast cancer patients with vitamin D‐binding protein‐derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF)

Serum vitamin D3-binding protein (Gc protein) is the precursor for the principal macrophage activating factor (MAF). The MAF precursor activity of serum Gc protein of breast cancer patients was lost or reduced because Gc protein was deglycosylated by serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) secreted from cancerous cells. Patient serum Nagalase activity is proportional to tumor burden. The deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be converted to MAF, resulting in no macrophage activation and immunosuppression. Stepwise incubation of purified Gc protein with immobilized beta-galactosidase and sialidase generated probably the most potent macrophage activating factor (termed GcMAF) ever discovered, which produces no adverse effect in humans. Macrophages treated in vitro with GcMAF (100 pg/ml) are highly tumoricidal to mammary adenocarcinomas. Efficacy of GcMAF for treatment of metastatic breast cancer was investigated with 16 nonanemic patients who received weekly administration of GcMAF (100 ng). As GcMAF therapy progresses, the MAF precursor activity of patient Gc protein increased with a concomitant decrease in serum Nagalase. Because of proportionality of serum Nagalase activity to tumor burden, the time course progress of GcMAF therapy was assessed by serum Nagalase activity as a prognostic index. These patients had the initial Nagalase activities ranging from 2.32 to 6.28 nmole/min/mg protein. After about 16-22 administrations (approximately 3.5-5 months) of GcMAF, these patients had insignificantly low serum enzyme levels equivalent to healthy control enzyme levels, ranging from 0.38 to 0.63 nmole/min/mg protein, indicating eradication of the tumors. This therapeutic procedure resulted in no recurrence for more than 4 years.

Antitumor effect of vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage activating factor on Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice.

Cancerous cells secrete alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NaGalase) into the blood stream, resulting in deglycosylation of serum vitamin D3-binding protein (known as Gc protein), which is a precursor for macrophage activating factor (MAF). Incubation of Gc protein with immobilized beta-galactosidase and sialidase generates the most potent macrophage activating factor (designated GcMAF). Administration of GcMAF to cancer-bearing hosts can bypass the inactivated MAF precursor and act directly on macrophages for efficient activation. Therapeutic effects of GcMAF on Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice were assessed by survival time and serum NaGalase activity, because serum NaGalase activity was proportional to tumor burden. A single administration of GcMAF (100 pg/mouse) to eight mice on the same day after transplantation of the tumor (5 x 10(5) cells) showed a mean survival time of 21 +/- 3 days for seven mice, with one mouse surviving more than 60 days, whereas tumor-bearing controls had a mean survival time of 13 +/- 2 days. Six of the eight mice that received two GcMAF administrations, at Day 0 and Day 4 after transplantation, survived up to 31 +/- 4 days whereas, the remaining two mice survived for more than 60 days. Further, six of the eight mice that received three GcMAF administrations with 4-day intervals showed an extended survival of at least 60 days, and serum NaGalase levels were as low as those of control mice throughout the survival period. The cure with subthreshold GcMAF-treatments (administered once or twice) of tumor-bearing mice appeared to be a consequence of sustained macrophage activation by inflammation resulting from the macrophage-mediated tumoricidal process. Therefore, a protracted macrophage activation induced by a few administrations of minute amounts of GcMAF eradicated the murine ascites tumor.

Antitumor Effect of Vitamin D-Binding Protein-Derived Macrophage Activating Factor on Ehrlich Ascites Tumor-Bearing Mice

Cancerous cells secrete α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NaGalase) into the blood stream, resulting in deglycosylation of serum vitamin D3-binding protein (known as Gc protein), which is a precursor for macrophage activating factor (MAF). Incubation of Gc protein with immobilized β-galactosidase and sialidase generates the most potent macrophage activating factor (designated GcMAF). Administration of GcMAF to cancer-bearing hosts can bypass the inactivated MAF precursor and act directly on macrophages for efficient activation. Therapeutic effects of GcMAF on Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice were assessed by survival time and serum NaGalase activity, because serum NaGalase activity was proportional to tumor burden. A single administration of GcMAF (100 pg/mouse) to eight mice on the same day after transplantation of the tumor (5 × 105 cells) showed a mean survival time of 21 ± 3 days for seven mice, with one mouse surviving more than 60 days, whereas tumor-bearing controls had a mean survival time of 13 ± 2 days. Six of the eight mice that received two GcMAF administrations, at Day 0 and Day 4 after transplantation, survived up to 31 ± 4 days whereas, the remaining two mice survived for more than 60 days. Further, six of the eight mice that received three GcMAF administrations with 4-day intervals showed an extended survival of at least 60 days, and serum NaGalase levels were as low as those of control mice throughout the survival period. The cure with subthreshold GcMAF-treatments (administered once or twice) of tumor-bearing mice appeared to be a consequence of sustained macrophage activation by inflammation resulting from the macrophage-mediated tumoricidal process. Therefore, a protracted macrophage activation induced by a few administrations of minute amounts of GcMAF eradicated the murine ascites tumor.

The value of serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase measurement for the assessment of tumour response to radio- and photodynamic therapy.

Serum activity of alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NaGalase), the extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme that appears to be produced exclusively by cancer cells, was measured in mice bearing SCCVII tumours (squamous cell carcinoma). The NaGalase levels in these mice increased with time of tumour growth and were directly proportional to tumour burden. After exposure of SCCVII tumours to a single X-ray dose of 20 Gy, the serum NaGalase levels gradually decreased during the first 10 days after treatment (to approximately one-third of the initial value) and then began to increase. The decrease in serum NaGalase activity was more rapid after the treatment of SCCVII and EMT6 tumours by photodynamic therapy (PDT) and was dependent on the PDT dose. The treatments (based on photosensitizers Photofrin or mTHPC) that were fully curative resulted in the reduction of NaGalase activity to background levels within 2 or 3 days after PDT. A slower decrease in NaGalase activity was found after PDT treatments that attain an initial tumour ablation but are not fully curative. The regrowth of PDT-treated SCCVII tumours was preceded by an increase in serum NaGalase levels, which was detected as early as 8 days before the visible tumour reappearance. These findings ascertain the validity of serum NaGalase measurement for the assessment of tumour response to different treatments and support the concept that the NaGalase measurement could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic index that might allow oncologists to design the dosage or nature of treatment.