Cancer Cure Now

DCA is a generic, low cost, non patentable substance which has been used for decades as a treatment for inborn metabolic disorders of the mitochondria, such as lactic acidosis.

However, it has recently been found to cause regression and death of a variety of tumors. DCA acts by forcing tumor cells to shift back from anaerobic metabolism to aerobic metabolism, which is controlled by the cell's mitochondria.

Usually cancer cells function by anaerobic metabolism, and their mitochondria are inactive. Once the mitochondria are reactivated, the function of the cancer cell is normalized, and it dies (undergoes apoptosis) instead of continuing with uncontrolled growth. DCA has no effects on normal, non-cancerous tissues.

The crucial link between anaerobic metabolism and cancer was first exposed in 1931 by Dr. Warburg, who won his first Nobel Prize for proving cancer is caused by a lack of oxygen respiration in cells.

He stated in an article titled The Prime Cause and Prevention of Cancer that "the cause of cancer is no longer a mystery, we know it occurs whenever any cell is denied 60% of its oxygen requirements. Cancer, above all other diseases, has countless secondary causes.

But, even for cancer, there is only one prime cause. Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar.

All normal body cells meet their energy needs by respiration of oxygen, whereas cancer cells meet their energy needs in great part by fermentation. All normal body cells are thus obligate aerobes, whereas all cancer cells are partial anaerobes." Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, a professor at the University of Alberta Department of Medicine, has shown that dichloroacetate (DCA) causes regression in several cancers, including lung, breast, and brain tumors. DCA caused significant decrease in tumor growth both in tumor cell cultures vitro and in animal studies. 1

Since DCA is not patented, research is being funded by Canadian public agencies, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada Research Chairs program, and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Michelakis is hoping to conduct clinical trials of DCA on cancer patients.

"This preliminary research is encouraging and offers hope to thousands of Canadians and all those around the world who are afflicted by cancer, as it accelerates our understanding of and action around targeted cancer treatments," said Dr. Philip Branton, Scientic Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer.

Patients interested in contacting Dr. Michelakis can do so through his assistant, Linda Webster, at 780-407-3285 or directly by e-mail at emichela@cha.ab.ca

DCA given on a longterm basis (25 mg/kg/day for 24 months) for metabolic disorders can cause neuropathy, with symptoms such as pain or loss of sensation in the fingers. 2

 This is thought to be due to thiamine depletion. However, these symptoms are minor compared to those of traditional chemotherapy, and disappear when the drug is discontinued. Additionally, continuing longterm use may not be needed in cancer treatment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1). Bonnet S et al, A Mitochondria-K+ Channel Axis Is Suppressed in Cancer and Its Normalization Promotes Apoptosis and Inhibits Cancer Growth  Cancer Cell Vol 11, 37-51, January 2007 (2). Kaufmann P. et al, Dichloroacetate causes toxic neuropathy in MELAS Neurology, Feb 14 2006