"Animal studies suggest that glutamine may suppress the growth of cancers. (12) Moreover, it may render tumor cells more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy by decreasing their intracellular glutathione levels, while it also restores depressed glutathione levels in normal tissues. (13) This latter effect suggests that glutamine supplementation may be superior in cancer therapy to treatment with other antioxidants as, unlike glutamine, they enhance glutathione nutriture in both normal and tumor cells. (14)"http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_264/ai_n14724221
"Glutamine--increases NK cell activity, decreases PGE2 synthesis, inhibits tumor growth, stabilizes weight loss, and reduces incidence of stomatitis and infectionhttp://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-027d.shtml
Tumors typically have high concentrations of glutamine; thus, physicians have been reluctant to add supplemental glutamine to a cancer protocol. However, oral glutamine (1 gram per kg of body weight a day administered to rats) upregulated tissue glutathione (a powerful antioxidant) by 25% and increased natural killer cell activity 2.5-fold. PGE2 synthesis (a pro-inflammatory prostaglandin that fuels tumor growth) decreased and tumors were inhibited by 40% (Klimberg et al. 1996a).
When glutamine accompanied either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it protected the host and actually increased the selectivity of therapy for the tumor. This was evidenced among a group of rats (receiving either methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, or cisplatin) whose tumor reduction nearly doubled with glutamine supplementation (Klimberg et al. 1992, 1996b)."
It has been found that cancer cells and normal cells respond differently to nutrients and drugs that affect glutathione status. The concentration of glutathione in tumor cells is higher than that of the normal cells that surround them. This difference in glutathione status between normal cells and cancer cells is believed to be an important factor in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy (Fojo et al. 2003; Townsend et al. 2003). Whey protein concentrate has been shown to selectively deplete cancer cells of their glutathione, thus making them more susceptible to cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Tumor cell glutathione concentration may be among the determinants of the cytotoxicity of radiation. Rapid glutathione synthesis in tumor cells is associated with high rates of cellular proliferation. Depletion of cancer cell glutathione in vivo decreases the rate of cellular proliferation and inhibits cancer growth (Kennedy et al. 1995).
It is difficult to reduce glutathione sufficiently in tumor cells without placing healthy tissue at risk. A compound that can selectively deplete the cancer cells of their glutathione, while increasing or at least maintaining the levels of glutathione in healthy cells, such as whey protein, is efficacious (Bounous 2000; Tsai et al. 2000).
Cancer cells treated with whey proteins are depleted of their glutathione and their growth is inhibited, while normal cells have an increase in glutathione and increased cellular growth. These effects were not seen with other proteins. Selective depletion of tumor cell glutathione may render cancer cells more vulnerable to the action of radiation (Bravard et al. 2002) and meanwhile protect normal tissue from the deleterious effects of radiation (Savarese et al. 2003; Kennedy et al. 1995).
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcls-txt/t-prtcl-025.html
Researchers in Spain have discovered that a cannabis extract makes brain tumors shrink by halting the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumors with life. Cannabis has chemicals called cannabinoids, these are the chemicals that could effectively starve tumors to death, say the researchers.
The study was carried out at the Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
The team used mice to demonstrate that the cannabinoids block vessel growth.
You can read about this latest research in the journal Cancer Research.
Apparently, the procedure is also effective in humans.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12088
In 1974 researchers learned that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, shrank or destroyed brain tumors in test mice. But the DEA quickly shut down the study and destroyed its results, which were never replicated -- until now.
The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February, 2000 when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/
Q: Does whey protein contain gluten or wheat protein?
A: No, pure whey protein does not contain any gluten. However, protein bars and beverages often contain gluten so always check the product ingredient label prior to purchase if it is not allowed in your diet.
http://www.wheyoflife.org/faq.cfm
Jamie, I'm confused--is a lower cranial nerve schwannoma the same as an AN, which is on the 8th vestibular? I know a vestibular schwannoma and an AN are interchangeable terms. I'm so glad you've had success with CK.
Capt Deb 8)