Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer.

Miller, Denis R.; Anderson, Gary; Stark, James J.; Granick, J.; Richardson, DeJuran

doi:10.1200/jco.1998.16.11.3649

Cited by 100 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…When alternative therapies were used as first-line treatment in a group of 33 women with breast cancer, early death and higher rates of recurrence were reported [23]. Furthermore, when tested in rigorous clinical trials, all ''natural cancer cures'' examined so far, such as shark cartilage [24,25], either have shown no benefit or, in the case of others such as laetrile [26], were found to be both ineffective and toxic. Fortunately, even for patients with advanced disease, most (88%) receive CAM care concurrently with conventional treatment [27] and it is the minority (8% in one study) who choose solely alternative cancer care [28].…”

Section: Risks Of Alternative Cancer Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

Hardy

2008

Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America

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Section: Risks Of Alternative Cancer Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

Hardy

2008

Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America

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“…In advanced cancer, there is growing evidence that some patients have unrealistic expectations of treatments of minimal (Slevin et al, 1990) or unproven efficacy (Bagenal et al, 1990;Daugherty et al, 1995;Miller et al, 1998), including a belief that their cancer is curable (Slevin et al, 1990;Yates et al, 1993;Butow et al, 1999;Richardson et al, 2000). In a secondary analysis of data that evaluated the beliefs and attitudes of patients about their diagnosis, prognosis, satisfaction with and use of treatments in advanced cancer, we showed that positive illusory responses, characterised by a belief in curability, a strong will to live and a committed use of alternatives to conventional medical treatments were associated with better quality of life (Beadle et al, 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Beliefs and practices of patients with advanced cancer: implications for communication

et al. 2004

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The aim of this study was to investigate the beliefs that patients with advanced cancer held about the curability of their cancer, their use of alternatives to conventional medical treatment, and their need to have control over decisions about treatment. Of 149 patients who fulfilled the criteria for participation and completed a self-administered questionnaire, 45 patients (31%) believed their cancer was incurable, 61 (42%) were uncertain and 39 (27%) believed their cancer was curable. The index of need for control over treatment decisions was low in 53 patients (35.6%) and high in only 17 patients (11.4%). Committed users of alternatives to conventional medical treatments were more likely to believe that their cancer was curable (Po0.001) and to have a higher need for control over decisions about treatment (Po0.004). The mean need for control scores were highest in patients who believed that their cancer was curable, or who were uncertain about the curability of their cancer, but who acknowledged that their oncologist had reported that the cancer was incurable. The diverse beliefs, attitudes and actions of these patients were consistent with a range of psychological adaptions to a life-threatening illness, some realistic and others illusory. Illusory responses influence what communication can achieve in daily oncology practice.

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“…30) Also, in some cases, the final sample size was very small with no significant results. Furthermore, except for the trial conducted by Miller et al, 29) the results obtained in these clinical studies have not been published in peer-reviewed journals. These facts have led to inconclusive and unreliable results.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…29) In spite of these discouraging results, the use of complementary medications, including shark cartilage, have increased among cancer patients as shown in a survey performed among 143 advanced cancer patients in which the authors found that shark cartilage was used by 21 (10.7%) of those patients. 32) However, there has outspoken criticism of the shark cartilage use in cancer patients in light of the lack of sufficient clinical evidence.…”

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Shark Cartilage as Source of Antiangiogenic Compounds: From Basic to Clinical Research.

González

Leyva

Moraes

2001

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

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The discovery that angiogenesis is a key condition for the growth of a tumor beyond a millimeter or two, brings about a new approach in the treatment of tumors using drugs able to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels. Also, it has been realized that antiangiogenic drugs can be useful in the treatment of other pathological processes, now classified as angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Initially, cartilage was considered as a possible natural source of antiangiogenic compounds due to its known avascular nature. To date, a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested the existence of antiangiogenic and antitumor compounds in bovine and shark cartilage. However, the potential usefulness of shark cartilage in the treatment of cancer and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases have not been totally accepted due to (i) unsatisfactory patient outcome in clinical trials that have used shark cartilage in cancer patients, (ii) the lack of data that correlates bioavailability with pharmacological effects using oral shark cartilage. Thus, the objective of this review is to describe the main basic and clinical investigations reported in the literature, in which the antiangiogenic and/or antitumor properties of shark cartilage or of its extracts were evaluated. Possible explanations for conflicting results are discussed as well.

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Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer.

Abstract: Under the specific conditions of this study, SC as a single agent was inactive in patients with advanced-stage cancer and had no salutary effect on quality of life. The 16.7% rate of SD was similar to results in patients with advanced cancer treated with supportive care alone.

Cited by 100 publications

References 23 publications

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

Beliefs and practices of patients with advanced cancer: implications for communication

Shark Cartilage as Source of Antiangiogenic Compounds: From Basic to Clinical Research.

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