Oral dichloroacetate sodium (DCA) has been investigated as a novel metabolic therapy for various cancers since 2007, based on data from Bonnet et al that DCA can trigger apoptosis of human lung, breast and brain cancer cells. Response to therapy in human studies is measured by standard RECIST definitions, which define “response” by the degree of tumour reduction, or tumour disappearance on imaging. However, Blackburn et al have demonstrated that DCA can also act as a cytostatic agent in vitro and in vivo, without causing apoptosis (programmed cell death). A case is presented in which oral DCA therapy resulted in tumour stabilization of stage 4 colon cancer in a 57 years old female for a period of nearly 4 years, with no serious toxicity. Since the natural history of stage 4 colon cancer consists of steady progression leading to disability and death, this case highlights a novel use of DCA as a cytostatic agent with a potential to maintain long-term stability of advanced-stage cancer.

Dichloroacetate sodium (DCA) is a nonproprietary drug currently used for treatment of inherited mitochondrial diseases. It was discovered in 2007 that DCA promotes human cancer cell death by a novel mechanism. Soon after this discovery, physicians began using DCA off-label for cancer treatment in a palliative setting. A case report is presented of a 71-year-old male with poorly differentiated carcinoma of unknown primary metastatic to the right leg and liver who achieved excellent palliation of leg pain by using oral DCA after failing conventional therapy.

Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) has been studied as a metabolic cancer therapy since 2007, based on a publication from Bonnet et al demonstrating that DCA can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in human breast, lung and brain cancer cells. Classically, the response of cancer to a medical therapy in human research is measured by Response Evaluation Criterial for Solid Tumours definitions, which define “response” by the degree of tumour reduction, or tumour disappearance on imaging, however disease stabilization is also a beneficial clinical outcome. It has been shown that DCA can function as a cytostatic agent in vitro and in vivo, without causing apoptosis. A case of a 32-year-old male is presented in which DCA therapy, with no concurrent conventional therapy, resulted in regression and stabilization of recurrent metastatic melanoma for over 4 years’ duration, with trivial side effects. This case demonstrates that DCA can be used to reduce disease volume and maintain long-term stability in patients with advanced melanoma.

Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to treat in this new millennium. In an attempt to increase tumor response rates and decrease patient toxicity to various chemotherapeutic agents, the efficacy of metformin as a chemosensitizer was investigated.

Renal squamous cell carcinoma is a rare form of renal cancer which is considered incurable once metastases develop. Prognosis is poor and average survival of advanced stage disease is typically in the range of several months, despite all available conventional therapies.We describe the case of a 72 year old female with metastatic renal squamous cell carcinoma who had a radical nephrectomy with positive surgical margins, renal vein invasion and metastases to multiple abdominal lymph nodes. She received a course of palliative radiotherapy to the abdomen with 4500cGy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Following radiotherapy, she was treated with a cyclic regimen of oral sodium dichloroacetate ("DCA"). Treatment was discontinued after 3 months due to development of peripheral neuropathy. Follow-up imaging upon completion of DCA treatment revealed no sign of metastatic disease. The neuropathy gradually improved and computed tomography imaging four years later demonstrated no cancer recurrence. The patient continues to feel well with no clinical evidence of recurrence five years after completion of therapy, and is living a normal and active life.