113 Years Of Enzyme And Cancer Research by Wade Lightheart from The Truth about Cancer

113 Years Of Enzyme And Cancer Research

In the last 113 years, there have been some very interesting theories, books and research done on enzymes and cancer.
This article will summarize various theories as well as highlight the more popular doctors and researchers who published their findings in the last century.
It all started with Dr. Beard.
Dr. John Beard was an Embryologist and Professor at the University of Edinburgh. In 1902, he wrote an article for the the British Medical Journal, Lancet, proposing that trypsin (an enzyme from the pancreas) could be a defense against cancer, and used as cancer treatment.
How did he come to this conclusion?
He had speculated that there were similarities between cells known as trophoblasts, and cells that cause cancer.
Trophoblasts are cells that have a very invasive nature in pregnant mammals (including humans), very similar to the activity of cancer cells. They multiply, just like how cancer cells do.
What he noticed is that the trophoblasts shifted from a “malignant” nature to a benign nature as pregnancy moved on, and noted that it happened in the presence of enzymes.

By Wade Lightheart

• Director Of Education For BiOptimizers
  
• 3-Time All Natural National Bodybuilding Champion
  
• Advisor For The American Anti-Cancer Institute
  

Dr. John Beard

As a result, he thought that since enzymes are able to turn trophoblasts benign, they could maybe do the same with cancer cells.
With his support, other physicians in the early 20th century began using injectable enzymes to treat their patients with cancer.
However, after his passing in 1924, the practice of using enzymes in the treatment of cancer faded away.

Then A Doctor From Texas Discovered Dr. Beard's Work... And Used It For Himself And Many Others

His own take on Dr. Beard’s protocol became adapted and known as the “Kelley Enzyme Protocol” -- which he used to treat many patients with.
Years later, in the 1980s, Dr. Kelley began working with Dr. Nick Gonzalez, who studied Dr. Kelley’s cancer patients.
Eventually, he published a book about Dr. Kelley’s treatment of cancer with enzymes, “One Man Alone: An investigation into cancer and William Donald Kelley.”
In this book, he reviewed approximately 10,000 of Dr. Kelley’s records, and interviewed and evaluated over 500 patients diagnosed with cancer. He discussed in detail the patients who experienced long-term survival and apparent regression of disease after using Dr. Kelley’s regimen.

The 4 Fascinating Theories Of Enzymes Treatments And Cancer.

There are a few theoretical explanations for how enzymes help in the treatment of cancer.
Some of these include:

1) Enzymes may promote cytokine production, including interferon and tumor necrosis factor.

Cytokines are chemical messengers that help cells in the immune system communicate with each other.
They’re essential for immune function, and play a role when it comes to fighting cancer cells.
Interferon is a type of cytokine released when there’s pathogens around — whether it’s viruses, bacteria, or tumor cells.
It activates immune cells known as “macrophages” that are able to clear away stuff the body doesn’t want — like cancer cells.
Tumor necrosis factor is also a cytokine that helps with killing off tumor cells.
It causes them to break down, through a process called cytolysis, which is where a cell bursts after being filled with too much water.
So, if enzymes boosts levels of these cytokines, tumor and cancer cells should have a tougher time surviving.

2) Enzymes may reduce inflammation.

There are theories that inflammation may have a role in causing or worsening cancer.
One proposed theory is that cancer cells are able to “lure” immune system cells to them, and then leverage these cells for their own benefit.
This is what may happen: when the immune cells invade the cancer cell to kill it off, they start growing blood vessels inside. But by doing this, these cancer cells end up having a source of oxygen and nutrients because of these new blood vessels.
So instead of killing them off, these immune cells may mistakenly be helping the cancer cells survive.
Why this might happen is not completely understood — but the theory is out there.
Inflammation may also encourage the spread of cancer cells.
This may happen as a result of chemicals being released during inflammation. These chemicals may slice away the connection between tumor cells and their surroundings, which allows them to roam free to other parts of the body.

3) Enzymes may improve the potency of white blood cells (macrophages and Natural Killer cells)

White blood cells are often what people refer to when they’re talking about cells of the immune system.
They’re responsible for keeping us healthy by fighting off foreign invaders.
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that are responsible for devouring unwanted cells and substances like cancer cells.
Natural Killer cells are also a type of white blood cell, and are known as the most aggressive in the immune system.
They target infected cells and tumor cells, and work by causing a process called apoptosis. Apoptosis is also known as “programmed cell death”.
Enzymes may boost the strength of these powerful white blood cells.
Perhaps the most interesting one is this:

4) Enzymes may break down fibrin, a protein that may mask cancer cells from being attacked by the immune system.

There’s a theory by some scientists proposing that cancer cells are able to “hide” themselves from our immune system.
The theory is that cancer cells might do this by covering themselves in a coat of a protein called “fibrin”.
The theory is that enzymes may be able to break down the fibrin coat and remove the disguise.
The theory proposes that once the disguise is removed, the cells of the immune system should be able to identify the cancer cells and clear them from the system.
Again, there are no major studies to prove any of these theories yet. But there are researchers out there seeking funding to support these concepts.
We are not stating in any shape, way, or form that enzymes can cure cancer.

Modern Research On Enzymes And Cancer

Science has found that an enzyme extracted from pineapple may have anti-tumoral effects similar to chemotherapy medication.

Disclaimer: We are not saying that bromelain can cure cancer
Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from pineapple stems, and in recent research, it has been seen to have better anti-tumoral effects compared to chemotherapy -- when studied in animals.
In one 2007 study published in the journal Planta Medica, animals treated with bromelain had a survival index of 318%, compared to the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil, which had a survival index of 263% -- indicating that the bromelain enzyme had a more effective anti-tumoral activity than the drugs. In this study, “survival index” was used as a measure of anti-tumoral activity.
Though the findings haven’t been replicated in human studies yet, these results are quite remarkable, because bromelain has very limited side effects -- compared to the debilitating effects of chemotherapy medication.

Research sources:

1. 1. Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition and detoxification support. Nutr Cancer. 1999;33(2):117-24.
2. 2. Báez R, Lopes MT, Salas CE, Hernández M. In vivo antitumoral activity of stem pineapple (Ananas comosus) bromelain. Planta Med. 2007 Oct;73(13):1377-83. Epub 2007 Sep 24.
3. 3. Safia Danovi. Feeling the heat – the link between inflammation and cancer. Cancer Research UK. Accessed from http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/02/01/feeling-the-heat-the-link-between-inflammation-and-cancer/
4. 4. Enzyme Therapy. American Cancer Society. Accessed from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/enzyme-therapy
5. 5. Lipinski B1, Egyud LG. Resistance of cancer cells to immune recognition and killing. Med Hypotheses. 2000 Mar;54(3):456-60.