Now more details:

My wife is 47 years old. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM stage 4) in July 2006. The tumor was located in the left parietal area and was 4-5 centimeters. Surgery was performed a few days later. The resection was less than complete. After a few weeks, she began chemo and radiation. The chemo was Temozolomide (or Temodar or Temodal). After 4 weeks, she had to stop chemo and radiation due to severe impact on blood counts. Biopsy indicated “empty” bone marrow. It took a few months to partially recover the counts (not completely) with the help of Neupogen and Procrit.

Earlier this year, an MRI indicated tumor progression. At that time, she was again put on chemo (Gleevec and Hydroxyurea). Another MRI taken a month later showed rapid tumor growth. The chemo was stopped because it was not effective for her, and also because it again impacted her blood counts severely.

After one week of no treatments, she began DCA. Our excellent neuro-oncologist agreed to watch over her and monitor her. She took 5 mg/kg/day for 2 days, then 7.5 mg/kg/day for 2 days, 10 mg/kg/day for 2 days, and then 12.5 mg/kg/day (the dose she stayed on). She is 65 kg. At first, she took a quarter of the total daily dose 4 times a day. After about a week, the total dose was given in 3 equal parts, morning, noon, and evening.

We were monitoring glucose levels daily along with blood counts throughout this time. The fasting glucose did drop from an initial value of 105 to as low as 33. However, in her case, we were able to manage it with more frequent meals and snacks. Earlier this week, she had the full metabolic panel testing (as Sandra had suggested). The numbers were all within range except for ALT, which was slightly elevated. I know that John would ask about the pH. We tested the urine pH and it was 7.0.

Side effects included fatigue (increased with time), which may or may not be related to glucose. Last weekend, the weakness was more than usual, so we stopped the DCA for a few days. She regained her normal strength (already affected by weakness on the right side due to tumor) in a couple of days. She did have one episode (lasting about half a minute) when her vision was affected (similar to what was reported by another person on this site).

The MRI taken two weeks after initiation of DCA showed no tumor progression. This is in spite of the fact that the previous MRI had major tumor growth. Again, the MRI taken 2 days ago also showed no apparent progression.

Over the last few months, she has been on essentially a vegetarian diet. She does not eat processed food or foods with added refined sugar. She takes mostly organic food. She has been on a long list of supplements recommended by Dr. Jeanne Wallace, a nutritionist specializing on cancer particularly brain tumors. She has been taking supplements for a few months. In addition, she has been taking about 8-10 grams of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) daily for the last 3 weeks or so.

The next major question is what to do next, which we will discuss with our NO soon. My feeling is to reduce dose to perhaps as low as 6 mg/kg/day and continue. I would welcome any insight into this.

HT

A.

That is great news and I am glad to see an initial Urine pH reading of 7.0.

I think at this stage more frequent readings of Urine and Saliva pH levels will show some fluctuations even pick up early signs of TLS and could be used as a tool to back off or reduce DCA before TLS or Myelin malfunction symptoms occur.

Thank you for sharing this with us all.

Best Regards to you both and God Bless.

John A.
Research Chemist

http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/10/15/5187.pdf

Noscapine is very hard to find at retail (for decades, it was the active ingredient in OTC anti-cough medicines, now replaced by a synthetic chemical), but I have a pharmacist friend who has found a wholesaler. The minimum qty is 1 Kg, so I'm looking for people to share the purchase. For noscapne background, www.pcref.org. Pharmacological dosage would be 2 - 3 grams/day.

What is great about noscapine and DCA is that their attacks on tumors appear to be orthogonal (mitochonrial/metabolic vs. tubulin/structural), which is promising for combined attacks, either simultaneous, serial, intermittant, alternating usage.

Like noscapine, some chemo drugs also target tubulin and tumor micro-tubles.

I have not been able to find anything about noscapine and DCA interactions. Since neither is Big Pharma, don't hold your breath. eg, Michelakis' search for trial funding.

Thank you

Annie_lol33@hotmail.com