| Complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) treatments are the diverse group of
medical and health care systems, practices, and products that
are not part of conventional medicine. Oncology, the study of
human cancer, has a long history of incorporating unconventional
or botanical treatments into mainstream cancer therapy. Some
examples of this phenomenon include the chemotherapy agent
paclitaxel, which is derived from the bark of the Pacific Yew
tree, and ATRA, all-trans retinoic acid, a derivative of Vitamin
A that induces cures in an aggressive leukemia known as acute
promyelocytic leukemia. Many "complementary" and "alternative"
medicines for cancer have not been studied using the scientific
method, such as in well-designed clinical trials, or they have
only been studied in preclinical (animal or in-vitro) laboratory
studies. Many times, "complementary" and "alternative" medicines
are supported by marketing materials and "testimonials" from
users of the substances. Frequently, when these treatments are
subjected to rigorous scientific testing, they are found not to
work. A recent example was reported at the 2007 annual meeting
of the American Society of Clinical Oncology: a Phase III
clinical trial comparing shark cartilage extract to placebo in
non-small cell lung cancer demonstrated no benefit of the shark
cartilage extract, AE-491.
"Complementary medicine" refers to methods and substances used
along with conventional medicine, while "alternative medicine"
refers to compounds used instead of conventional medicine. A
study of CAM use in patients with cancer in the July 2000 issue
of the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that 69% of 453 cancer
patients had used at least one CAM therapy as part of their
cancer treatment.[9]
Some complementary measures include botanical medicine, such as
an NIH trial currently underway testing mistletoe extract
combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors,
acupuncture for managing chemotherapy-associated nausea and
vomiting and in controlling pain associated with surgery,
psychological approaches such as "imaging" or meditation to aid
in pain relief or improve mood.[9]
A wide range of alternative treatments have been offered for
cancer over the last century. The appeal of alternative cures
arises from the daunting risks, costs, or potential side effects
of many conventional treatments, or in the limited prospect for
cure. Some people resort to these so-called "alternative" forms
of treatment in desperation or as a last resort. However, no
alternative therapies have been shown in any scientific study to
effectively treat cancer. Some express the view that the
promotion and sale of certain alternative modalities known to be
ineffective constitute quackery.
Treatment Treatment
trials >>
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Cancer
Classification
1. Nomenclature
2. Adult cancers
3. Childhood cancers
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis
1. Investigation
2. Biopsy
Treatment
1. Surgery
2. Radiation therapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Targeted therapies
5. Immunotherapy
6. Hormonal therapy
7. Symptom control
8. Complementary and alternative
9. Treatment trials
Prognosis
1. Emotional impact
Causes
1. Chemical carcinogens
2. Ionizing radiation &
Infectious diseases
3. Hormonal imbalances
& Immune system dysfunction
4. Heredity & Other causes
Pathophysiology
1. Epigenetics
2. Oncogenes
3. Tumor suppressor genes
4. Cancer cell biology
4.1 Clonal evolution
4.2 Biological properties of cancer cells
Prevention
1. Modifiable ("lifestyle") risk factors
2. Diet
3. Vitamins
4. Chemoprevention
5. Genetic testing
6. Vaccination
7. Screening
Epidemiology
History
Research |
