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Dear Sr.
This is the first time that I try to send some information to the MOL list from where I've found information for my the mother of my friend, and many people wishing to help (thanks Lillian, Kate, Jeanne, and I'm sorry because for the people I do not mention since I don't remember their names, the people that have tried to help my friend's mother in any way), I hope this could help in any way you. i have copied the information about ANTINEOPLASTIN THERAPY, extracted from a web site in Canada, where there are a lot of "alternative" therapies discussed. Please I do not want to provoke more confusion as I know that you may feel. Please forgive my bad English, I'm mailing from Spain and I'm sorry for the delay in the answer, Just have read your message.
In this sites are "discussions" about the treatment of aminoplastin, among others as well I'm affraid.
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/uctm/ .
Wish you the best.
Francisco.
This is the information about antineoplastons.
Many individuals with cancer may wish to investigate unconventional or unproven therapies. This information, cited from the medical literature and other sources, is intended to help cancer patients and their families in their objective evaluation of unconventional therapies.
Summary
"After careful study of the literature and other information available to it, the American Cancer Society does not have evidence that treatment with antineoplastons results in objective benefit in the treatment of cancer in human beings. Lacking such evidence, the American Cancer Society would strongly urge individuals afflicted with cancer not to participate in treatment with antineoplastons." (CA)
Description / Source / Component
Antineoplastons have been described by Burzynski as "a substance produced by the living organism that protects it against development of neoplastic growth by a non-immunological process which does not significantly inhibit the growth of normal tissues." (CA)
Antineoplastons are "peptides that control cancer growth in the human body." (Green)
"Antineoplastons can be extracted from blood serum and urine, and manufactured synthetically." (Burton Goldberg Group)
"Antineoplaston AS2-1 is a mixture of sodium salts of phenylacetic acid (PAA) and phenylacetylglutamine (PAG) in the ratio 4:1." It is administered by injection or orally. Antineoplaston A-10 (3-N-phenylacetylaminopiperidine-2,6 dione) is the active component present in the urinary antineoplastons. (Green)
History
Stanislaw R. Burzynski, M.D. and his associates have been working on antineoplastons as a treatment for cancer since 1967. He works from the Burzynski Research Institute, Houston, Texas; was educated in Poland and is licensed to practice in Texas. (CA)
Proponent Claims / Beliefs (unverified)
Burzynski claims that antineoplastons are able to reprogram cancer cells to restore errors in cellular differentiation to normal. (Burton Goldberg Group)
"Antineoplaston A-10 is an agent derived from human urine which is remarkable for its antineoplastic activity and lack of toxicity." (Hendry)
These substances are claimed by Burzynski to act as "reverse oncogenes" and transform malignant tissue into normal tissue. Described as a series of 199 polypeptides derived from urine, it is theorized that a deficiency of this material in the body predisposes to cancer, while treatment with these drugs reverses cancer. (Wilson)
In 1977 Burzynski described treatment of 21 advanced cancer patients with cancer of the breast, bladder, colon, leukemia and other sites - some degree of clinical improvement was noted in 86 percent of the patients with no evidence of significant toxicity and minimal side effects. (CA) (Burzynski)
Refutation / Evaluation
"It is not clear from Dr. Burzynski‘s work what response rate he is actually claiming. Of the 11 BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) patients known to have been treated with antineoplastons, 9 have died with no evidence of therapeutic effect. One remains alive and well after having received treatment at BCCA which we fully expected to be curative. The remaining patient, who Dr. Burzynski referred to in Vancouver as his "best case", also received radiation therapy to all known sites of disease. While the response to radiation was better than expected, such responses have been seen before and cannot be fairly attributed to antineoplastons." (Silver 1986)
"Hours after his appearance on the television program ’CBS This Morning‘, federal agents raided the Houston office of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski who has distributed a controversial cancer drug (Antineoplastons)." (Lum)
The Ontario government sent two Toronto specialists to Burzynski’s clinic - of 20 cases reviewed, no evidence was found that any had benefited from treatment. Of four patients Burzynski claimed had achieved complete remissions, three had died of recurrences, the fourth had undergone surgery for bladder cancer which was believed to be curative. (Dunlop) (Blackstein)
A 38-year-old woman received antineoplaston treatment for her recurrent rectal cancer involving the lower pelvis at the Burzynski clinic for nearly a year. During that period, her tumor progressed. "The patient succumbed to her disease some 6 months later." (Wanebo)
"Five fractions were produced from human urine by Burzynski, A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-5. Burzynski does not offer an explanation for the basis on which he chooses any one specific fraction for treatment of a patient, or why he has never reported using fractions A-1 or A-4 to treat patients." (Green)
"The so-called five urinary antineoplastons (A-1 to A-5) have not been shown to be chemically, biologically, or pharmacologically distinct from each other, and none has been proven to have antineoplastic activity against experimental cancer." (Green)
Burzynski "offers no explanation of how or where this insoluble substance [antineoplaston A-10] is made or how it gets from the blood, through the kidneys, and into the urine. Being insoluble, A-10 is obviously not suitable for intravenous administration." (Green)
"Burzynski did not follow the accepted scientific method of testing his products on animals - he claims that extracts from human urine worked only in humans and that animal testing would be pointless." (Dunlop)
Careful surveillance of the medical literature for the period since 1977 has revealed no additional reports of clinical trials to date. (CA)
In December 1985 Wayne Ingham, aged 37, of Port Alberni, B.C., died in a Vancouver hospital following treatment with Burzynski‘s antineoplastons. After returning from the clinic with a month’s supply of medicine the Inghams were optimistic the treatments had helped. Following Ingham‘s death, his parents said they had a renewed respect for Canadian medical treatment and ethics. (Sun)
This story has similarities to that of Dr. Burton in the Bahamas. A biological substance is purported to have dramatic anti-cancer activity. However, the purification of the compound is complex and has not been reproduced, there are no firm supporting clinical reports and the agent has not been made available for impartial evaluation. (Silver 1981)
"Although there is no proof that this and countless other biological preparations are effective, the burden of proof remains on Dr. Burzynski to supply more convincing evidence." (Silver 1981)
Toxicity / Risks
". . . two Ontario patients developed septicemia after returning from Texas and one of them died of septicemia" (Dunlop)
"Some patients have experienced stomach gas, skin rashes, increased blood pressure, chills, fever and unpleasant body odours." (Ontario)
Costs
"Initial consultation is $125. Treatment is given on an outpatient basis at a cost of approximately $135 to $685 U.S. per day. Diagnostic tests are not included." (Fink) (Ontario)
In 1982, Dr. Burzynski charged $180 a day for treatments lasting from six weeks to a year, plus other charges that brought the cost of treatment to about $4000 a month. Travel costs are not included. A deposit of $5000 is required. (CA) An Ontario patient, Stephanie Kusan, aged 20 was unsuccessfully treated by Dr. Burzynski. Cost to the patient was $75,000. (Dunlop)
References
Copyright © 1996-98 BC Cancer Agency. All Rights Reserved.
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