The Application of DCA for Cancer

                                                                                         

Cancerous cells typically utilize glycolysis instead of respiration as their source of energy. This is due to hypoxia, which exists in damaged mitochondria and tumors. Generally, extremely damaged cells abort themselves through apoptosis, which is a self-destruction mechanism involving the mitochondria. However, this mechanism is not present in cancer-causing cells. Based on Warburg hypothesis on cancer growth, cancer is brought about by the mitochondria’s metabolic changes. This is the previous perception regarding the development of cancer. However, recent studies have shown that the disease is a result of mutation within the cell genome.

University of Alberta researchers published a study during January 2007, regarding the testing of dichloroacetate acid or DCA for cancer. This compound is tested on a rat subject and lines of cancer cells (in vitro). The researchers discovered that DCA restored the functions of mitochondria. Because of the restoration of the functions, the apoptosis mechanism is also restored. The in vitro cancer-causing cells are killed and the tumors are shrunk.

The results of the study received so much attention from the media. Medical organizations, such as ACS or American Cancer Society, have acquired huge volumes of inquiries and interest from the public about DCA. There have been reports, which have pointed out the downside to the study. Although the findings have been positive and promising, there are no formal clinical studies done on humans. This indicates the requirement for precaution, when it comes to the interpretation of preliminary results.

Despite public warning against the use of DCA for cancer patients, there are still some specialists and doctors who are treating their patients with “off-label” dichloroacetate acid. As a matter of fact, there have already been incidences about doctors being reported to higher medical associations for providing their cancer patients with off-label DCA. An editorial from The New Scientist stated that dichloroacetate acid has yet to act on the promise that it can treat cancer and that clinical tests should be anticipated. There is also a possibility that it will come up with a new breed of drugs that can treat the disease. But for the meantime, DCA remains to be an experimental drug and it has never been properly tested on a cancer patient.

Over ninety percent of drugs that are entering the first phase of clinical trials are discovered to be unacceptable. The Food and Drug Administration has only approved eight to eleven percent of medications and drugs that are entering the first phase of testing. DCA is previously tested on patients that have lactic acidosis and not cancer, which makes it debatable whether it can enter the second phase or not. Dichloroacetate acid cannot be patented as a compound. However, there has been a filing of patent for the cancer treatment purposes of products that contain DCA.

Nowadays, there are several medical products that contain a less acidic version of the DCA, which is sodium dichloroacetate. Potassium dichloroacetate also has lesser acidic properties but the former is more commonly used. These products are found on the Internet, where there are numerous websites selling it, as well as providing information regarding its use. If you want to be sure of the DCA product that you are buying, make sure that you know the site you are purchasing it from. This way, you are assured of the reliability of the drug.

About the author:
Better DCA is an online chemical company that provides 99 percent pure DCA . Several promising products are using DCA for cancer .

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