Big Step Toward Developing Targeted Cancer Treatments
Research says that a more holistic view portrays genetic cancer as much more preventable and easier to understand, and more about metabolome of cancer cells.
Research says that a more holistic view portrays genetic cancer as much more preventable and easier to understand, and more about metabolome of cancer cells.
‘All three treatments (vitamin D3, omega-3s, and SHEP) had cumulative benefits on reducing the risk of invasive cancers.’
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Cancer is considered as a major age-related disease in Europe and the USA. It is the second leading cause of mortality in older adults and the chances of getting most cancers increases with age.Read More..
Apart from preventative recommendations such as not smoking and sun protection, public health efforts that focus on cancer prevention are limited, according to Dr Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, University Hospital Zurich: “Preventive efforts in middle-aged and older adults today are largely limited to screening and vaccination efforts.”
Vitamin D, omega-3, and exercise
Mechanistic studies have shown that vitamin D inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Similarly, omega-3 may inhibit the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells, and exercise has been shown to improve immune function and decrease inflammation, which may help in the prevention of cancer.
However, there was a lack of robust clinical studies proving the effectiveness of these three simple interventions, alone or combined.
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A combination of simple treatments
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“In DO-HEALTH, our aim was to test promising combined interventions for cancer prevention taking advantage of potentially small additive benefits from several public health strategies,” explained Bischoff-Ferrari.
“In fact, novel cancer treatments aim to block multiple pathways for cancer development by combining several agents. We translated this concept into cancer prevention.”
The participants were randomized into eight different groups to test the individual and combined benefit of the interventions: group 1 received 2,000 IU per day of Vitamin D3, 1 g per day of omega-3s, and three times per week SHEP; group 2 vitamin D3 and omega-3s; group 3 vitamin D3 and SHEP; group 4 omega-3s and SHEP; group 5 vitamin D3 alone; group 6 omega-3s alone; group 7 SHEP alone; and group 8 received a placebo.
Participants received check-up phone calls every 3 months and had standardized examinations of health and function in the trial centers at baseline, year 1, year 2, and year 3.
Preventing invasive cancer
The results show that all three treatments (vitamin D3, omega-3s, and SHEP) had cumulative benefits on the risk of invasive cancers.
Each of the treatments had a small individual benefit but when all three treatments were combined, the benefits became statistically significant, and the researchers saw an overall reduction in cancer risk by 61%.
“This is the first randomized controlled trial to show that the combination daily vitamin D3, supplemental marine omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program may be effective in the prevention of invasive cancer among generally healthy and active adults aged 70 and older,” Bischoff-Ferrari commented.
The results may impact the future of invasive cancer prevention in older adults. Bischoff-Ferrari concluded: “Our results, although based on multiple comparisons and requiring replication, may prove to be beneficial for reducing the burden of cancer.”
“Future studies should verify the benefit of combined treatments in the prevention of cancer, also extending to longer follow-ups beyond the 3-year duration assessed in this trial.”
Source-Medindia
