IPT Breast, Ovarian, and Lung Cancer Protocol
of November, 1998
by SGA, M.D.
[ Following is a summary of the abstract, by C
Duffield. ]
[summary of ] ABSTRACT
[Original historical document may be available from
Dr. SGA.]
In this protocol, low-dose chemotherapy drugs are given
along with insulin and glucose as chemo-hormonal treatment for breast,
lung, and ovarian cancer. Insulin acts as a biological response
modifier to boost the effects of chemo drugs. Glucose quells the
hypoglycemia brought on by the insulin. Insulin and insulin-like
growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are known growth factors in breast cancer and some
lung cancer cells. Exogenous insulin can alter membrane mechanisms
and stimulate cell growth, to potentiate the drug effects. Insulin
increases transport of drugs across cancer cell membranes, and recruits
cancer cells into S-phase of the growth cycle (where cells are more
sensitive to some anticancer drugs) via cross-reaction with IGF-1
receptors. This synergy greatly increases the effectiveness of
chemotherapy, and allows reduced doses of the drugs, thus avoiding
dose-related side effects. The effect is increased for cancer cells
relative to normal cells because of a much higher concentration of insulin
receptors on cancer cell membranes, thus increasing cancer cell kill while
sparing normal cells. Empirically, this protocol of insulin-potentiated
low-dose chemotherapy has produced complete long-term remission in several
types of cancer, without toxic side effects from the chemo drugs.
This protocol is for a prospective pilot clinical trial on adults with
stage IV breast cancer, unresectable ovarian cancer (all stages), and
unresectable small-cell lung cancer (all stages). This study will
compile
outcomes data (survival and disease-free survival, tumor responses, potentiation of
anticancer drug effect by insulin, quality of life measurements, changes in biochemical
markers of disease). If the results warrant, Phase III randomized
clinical trials of IPT can be undertaken.