This case report describes the use of a botanical immunomodulatory regimen incorporating beta-glucan, Maitake D-fraction, and antioxidant support in a 73-year-old patient with a progressively enlarging intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasm who declined conventional intervention.
These days, more and more people are seeking alternative, integrative natural therapies to complement their traditional medical care OR in place of their conventional medical treatment. The immunotherapeutic stimulation of the patient’s own immune response is an important and integral factor for fighting cancer at its optimum to “seek out” and destroy the malignant cells through immunomodulating properties activating macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells and T cells to attack the tumor cells along with lymphokines, interleukin 1 and 2, CD4 and CD8 to activate the cell mediated response. The research being clinically evidenced-based, reveals an effective, organic, sustainable and safe naturopathic plant-based product, a proprietary compounded blend, physician formulated, that has shown great success with cancers, chronic diseases and the COVID-19 virus, with a successful track record for more than twenty years. It is my pursuit to help as many people as possible with this innovative, revolutionary and unique product by improving the outcomes for patients with a better chance to live longer and thrive with this natural plant-based immunotherapy.
Carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the pancreas. Approximately 75% are in the head of the pancreas and 25% are in the body and tail . Carcinoma involving the head of the pancreas, the ampulla of Vater, the common bile duct and the duodenum are considered together because they are usually indistinguishable clinically. Of these , carcinomas of the pancreas constitute over 90%. They comprise 2% of all cancers and 5% of all cancer deaths.
Carcinoma of the pancreas has a poor prognosis. Reported 5-year survival rate ranges from 2.3% to 5.2%. Lesions of the ampulla have a better prognosis, with a reported 5-year survival rate of 20-40% after resection. The reported operative mortality rate of radical pancreaticoduodenectomy is 10-15% .
The patient in this report is a 73-year-old male, a retired Jesuit missionary, working in South America, who had been in previously good health, who went to see his doctor with the complaint of blood in his urine. The patient had a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis performed which showed an unremarkable exam for hematuria. However, a lesion within the pancreatic head and dilated pancreatic duct were noted.
Labs were all within normal limits, with a normal CA 19-9. There was no significant past medical or social history except for a family history of the patient’s older brother dying of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.
The patient was then referred to a GI specialist for further evaluation for the diagnosis of “pancreatic lesion, rule out cancer of the pancreas”. The patient was scheduled for an outpatient ERCP, with the indication for this procedure per GI was “abnormal CT scan of pancreatic head, dilated pancreatic duct and weight loss”. The ERCP procedure revealed an “ intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasm and dilated duct of the head of the pancreas”.
Having periodic CT scans, there was continued progressive growth of the pancreatic mucinous neoplasm. The patient had surgical consults for a possible subtotal pancreatectomy, chronic obstruction and possible pancreatic insufficiency. Several second opinions suggested continuing to observe and monitor growth.
At this time, the patient declined any thoughts of surgery or other treatments or interventions such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the reason being “he saw what his brother went through with all that and did not want to go through what his brother went through.” The patient requested ‘natural treatment,’ and I was consulted for a natural alternative therapy for his diagnosis. The patient agreed to and began my immune modulating alternative therapy to increase his own immunological response.
After 4 weeks of taking the botanical medicine, the patient had a pre-scheduled CT scan for monitoring tumor growth, and it was noted there was minimal growth of the tumor, whereas there had been consistent growth prior – much to the amazement of his doctors – and this continued over time. The doctor couldn’t understand what was happening and the patient said he had to tell the doctor that he was taking a ‘natural remedy’ and the doctor replied with “keep taking whatever it is you’re taking because it’s working!”
After several months, the cancerous neoplasm “decreased in size to near normal”. The patient stated that he ‘feels better than he has in years,’ and his family and friends have noted the same. He returned to all his regular activities and a good quality lifestyle consisting of organic whole foods, fish, and daily exercises of swimming and walking, along with meditation and prayer .
“After several months, the neoplasm ‘decreased in size to near normal.’ The patient stated that he ‘feels better than he has in years.’”
Discussion
A great number of people are seeking alternative therapies to complement their traditional medical care or in place of their conventional medical treatment. For an ‘alternative therapy’ to be integrative or complementary, it should not interfere with any traditional therapy of the patient, it should provide protection from toxic effects of the therapy being received, and it should support the patient as an individual therapy.
The premise of the therapy, based on the hypothesis of holistic medical traditions (Traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Japanese Medicine) that all cancers are not “true cancers”; only about 10-15% are “true cancers” (genetically linked) and 85-90% are “pseudo-cancers”, “mutations” of a bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that act like and resembles cancers – i.e. “it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, but it’s not a duck!” Therefore, the immunotherapeutic modulation of the patient’s own immune response is an integral factor for fighting cancer at its optimum to seek out and destroy the malignant cells through immunomodulating properties of activating macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ CD8+ T-cells and dendritic cells to attack the tumor cells along with lymphokines such as interleukin 1+2 to activate the cell-mediated response.
The polysaccharide B-1,3-D-glucan is a naturally occurring immunomodulator isolated from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a common yeast also known as baker’s yeast. It is a primary immune activator with tumoricidal properties that works by stimulating the macrophage to release interleukin-1 and interleukin-2, triggering other immune cells (increasing their activity and production) and boosting bone marrow production.1 B-1,3-D-glucan was shown to protect against infection of S. aureus, E.coli, Pneumocystis carinii, Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, Leishmania donovani, Herpes simplex and Ascaris species.2 The protective effect of yeast glucan on bone marrow in radiation therapy is apparent in the enhancement of hematopoietic recovery and the regeneration of the host’s ability to resist life threatening opportunistic infection.3 Furthermore, yeast beta glucan has been shown to promote tumor regression and accelerate wound healing.4
In addition to B-1,3-D-glucan, Maitake D-fraction was given to maximize stimulation of macrophages. Maitake mushrooms (Grifola fondosa) are native to Northern Japan and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia. Their bioactivity includes anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and antiviral activities. The D-fraction component appears to possess considerable antitumor activity. Unlike other medicinal mushrooms, the B-glucan obtained from Maitake mushrooms has a unique and complex chemical structure : a 1,6 main chain having a greater degree of 1,3 side branches. It is generally theorized that the greater the degree of branching, the more opportunity to interact with immune cells for activation and greater the potency.6 The Maitake D-fraction activates macrophages , natural killer cells and other T cells to attack the tumor cells. It also potentiates the activity of various mediators, mainly lymphokines such as interleukin-1 and interleukin-2, all of which activate the cell-mediated response.7 Research has shown that Maitake-D fraction not only inhibits tumor growth but can be used to prevent new formation of tumors and to slow metastasis of existing cancer cells.8 When taken in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents, Maitake-D fraction increases the benefits of the agents provided by inhibiting cancer cell growth and ameliorating many adverse effects of the toxic agents.8 Therefore, given the immunomodulating properties of B-1,3- glucan and Maitake D-fraction, I hoped that the combination would optimize the patient’s immune function.
To decrease the damage caused by oxidation of free radicals, an Ayurvedic botanical combination Amrit was added to the treatment regimen. It is a complex herbal botanical blend containing ashwagandha, amla, Shatavari, and other herbs that is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E , beta carotenes, bioflavonoids and riboflavin. Research shows that Amrit is significantly more potent in scavenging free radicals than are antioxidants vitamin C and E alone; it is a unique antioxidant blend protecting against the full spectrum of free radicals.10 It is a potent anti-tumor agent that enhances the immune response by modulating macrophage activity and increasing serum levels of interleukin-2.11 In studies of patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, Amrit significantly reduced the side effects of the chemotherapy treatment.12
Conclusion
Since the initial diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasia, the patient’s course has been marked by stabilization and subsequent reduction in lesion size following initiation of a natural immunomodulatory regimen centered on the botanical medicine formulation. This approach was accompanied by lifestyle measures including a whole-food diet, exercise, meditation, prayer, and a positive mental outlook. The patient reported no treatment-related adverse effects and experienced improvements in overall well-being, functional status, and quality of life.
