10 Cases of Complete Remission from Advanced Cancers after using Supplements or Repurposed Drugs

10 Cases of Complete Remission from Advanced Cancers after using Supplements or Repurposed Drugs

Author: Daniel S, PhD; Last update: January 31st, 2021

Some weeks ago, I’ve got a question if complete remission from Stage 4 cancers is actually possible at all.

My answer was: Yes! There are two major categories of complete remissions:

1. spontaneous complete remissions – there are many cases of spontaneous remissions reported in the scientific literature often due to unknown causes
2. complete remissions following treatments – these can be achieved with both conventional therapies as well as with new and alternative therapies including supplements, re-purposed drugs, diet and other less conventional approaches.

In this post I would like to address the second category and list 10 case reports published in the scientific literature (i.e. not anecdotal reports) showing that complete remission can be induced even when conventional medicine alone cannot add much value. Some of these case reports have been already shared by contributors on this website or myself, but is good to have a consolidated list of several of them.

There are many more case reports (some already shared in the past posts on this website) that are impressive, but I had to stop somewhere. I could not stop easily so I had to share a few more cases at the end of this post. If you are aware of impressive case reports published in peer review journals, please share them as comments at the end of this post, so we can continue learning from each other.

If you like, please don’t forget to share this post on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)! This information may save someone’s life!

Cancer seems to be a complex problem. However, that is because we do not understand it well. Any problem in life has a simple solution, and from time-to-time nature sends us signals exposing its simplicity. We need to see those signs and start looking for patterns, and this is the first step towards finding a solution to our challenges.

Case 1: Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Complete Remissions with Irbesartan

Response to angiotensin blockade with Irbesartan in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer

A case report by MDs and scientists at British Columbia Cancer Agency, Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver; Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.

A 67-year-old female, not tolerating adjuvant chemotherapy presented constant recurrence of a colorectal cancer stage 4. Genomic analysis and prior literature in colorectal cancers indicated that angiotensin blockade may inhibit a part of colorectal cancers. Supported by these findings, her doctors suggested that irbesartan could be a potential option due to the blockade of the renin–angiotensin pathway.

The patient had a pretreatment baseline PET/CT scan and started Irbesartan at a dose of 150 mg daily. She had a follow-up PET/CT at 5 weeks and again at 3 months (Figure B to E). Before the therapy, her CEA was elevated at 18 (upper limit of normal 5). After 5 weeks of therapy, this value decreased to a CEA of 3.1. Furthermore, there was virtually a complete functional radiological resolution of her disease (Figure ​D and E). These results are maintained at the 10-month point with CEA at 1.4.

Irbesartan, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. It is a drug that is both available and accessible (i.e. cheap).

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843189/

Case 2: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Complete Remissio with EGCG from Green Tea Extract

A Case of Complete and Durable Molecular Remission of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Following Treatment with Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, an Extract of Green Tea

A case report by MDs and scientists at Oncology, Oregon Integrative Oncology; Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago; Medical Oncology/Hematology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; School of Medicine, BIDMC, Harvard Medical School Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health.

“A 48-year-old man achieved a complete molecular remission 20 years after a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia while using epigallicatechin-3-gallate, an extract of green tea. The patient presented at age 28 with lymphocytosis, mild anemia, mild thrombocytopenia, and massive splenomegaly, for which a splenectomy was performed. He was then followed expectantly. Over the next two decades, he suffered two symptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukemia-related events. The first occurred twelve years after diagnosis (at age 40) when the patient developed fevers, night sweats, and moderate anemia. He was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The patient declined conventional therapy in favor of a diet, exercise, and supplement regimen, and recovered from the autoimmune hemolytic anemia though the underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia remained evident. This is the first published case report of “spontaneous” recovery from secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia in an adult.”

The patient used curcumin, fish oil, vitamin D, Scutellaria baicalensis, and perhaps most importantly as the authors noted, was epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea extract. This is because the timing of the remission, came shortly after an increase in dose of epigallocatechin-3- gallate to 4 g daily. Authors also noted that the concurrent use of curcumin may have been relevant given that preclinical work suggests curcumin may potentiate the antitumor effect of EGCG.

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26858922/

Case 3: Complete Remission of Follicular Lymphoma with Antiviral Drugs

Remission of Follicular Lymphoma after Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection

A case report by MDs and scientists at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

A 44-year-old man, patient with advanced follicular lymphoma was treated for a concurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Surprisingly, complete remission of both conditions after treatment with antiviral therapy (sofosbuvir) and ribavirin. Prior to that, Stage 4 disease was diagnosed on the basis of widespread lymphadenopathy, a large mesenteric mass (Fig. A) that measured 7.5 cm by 3.0 cm by 9.7 cm, and low-level bone marrow involvement.

The patient received a 24-week course of sofosbuvir (at a dose of 400 mg once daily) and ribavirin (1200 mg once daily) from March through September 2014. In December 2014, findings on computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis were consistent with a very good partial response of the follicular lymphoma. As of September 2016, the patient remained well, with no clinical evidence of disease recurrence.

Reference: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1513288

Case 4: Complete Remission of Stage IV Melanoma with IP6 Food Supplement

Inositol hexaphosphate plus inositol induced complete remission in stage IV melanoma: a case report

A case report from Department of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA: a 59-year-old male with metastatic melanoma declined traditional therapy (the patient was offered systemic therapy with both immunotherapy and targeted therapy) and opted to try over the counter supplement IP6+inositol instead. To his doctor’s surprise, the patient achieved a complete remission and remains in remission 3 years later, after using IP6+inositol alone.

Computated tomography with the contrast of the chest before (left) and 2 years after (right) starting inositol hexaphosphate+inositol showing complete radiologic resolution of the upper right hilar lymph node.

Reference: https://journals.lww.com/melanomaresearch/Abstract/2019/06000/Inositol_hexaphosphate_plus_inositol_induced.15.aspx

Case 5: Complete Remission of an aggressive cancer – Adrenal Cancer – with Statin, Metformin & Melatonin

Metformin and Melatonin in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Morphoproteomics and Biomedical Analytics Provide Proof of Concept in a Case Study

A case report from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UT Health McGovern Medical School and Biomedical Analytics, Houston, TX, USA: “A 31-year-old white female was originally diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) at age. She subsequently began chemotherapy that included doxorubicin, cisplatin, etoposide and mitotane and metyrapone at MD Anderson Cancer Center with some shrinkage of the tumor leading to its surgical removal via right adrenalectomy and right hepatectomy. However, her ACC returned a few months later with metastatic disease to the left side of her liver and left lower lobe of the lung, and the recurrent tumor was resistant to standard chemotherapy. When the patient was 26 years old, the metastatic tumor in the liver was excised via partial left hepatectomy and a portion was submitted for morphoproteomic analysis [8,9].

The morphoproteomic analysis resulted in the recommended therapeutic considerations that included a statin, metformin (500 mg twice per day) and melatonin (20 mg once per day at bedtime), and these agents were initiated as part of a personalized treatment plan of her medical oncologist. This brought the patient’s cancer under control clinically, and her improved health enabled her to start up her family. At age 27, the patient was pregnant, working part-time, and working out in the gym again. During her pregnancy and thereafter, she stopped the statin but continued metformin at 500 mg 4 times per week and melatonin at 20 mg 3 times per week as a maintenance regimen. She and her husband welcomed their daughter, born later that year. Subsequently, at age 28, a “spot” was confirmed in the right upper lobe of the lung and was removed and submitted for morphoproteomic analysis. By comparison with the pretreatment specimen from the liver, the metastatic tumor from the right upper lobe of the lung with the patient on maintenance therapy with metformin and melatonin showed molecular and morphometric evidence of growth inhibition (vide infra). At age 29, repeat scans revealed no evidence of tumor, and she and her husband welcomed the birth of their son. Some 7 years post diagnosis the patient has resumed a healthy clinical life and remains on melatonin and metformin as a maintenance type therapy to reduce the risk of recurrent disease.”

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28801373/

Here is another case report where a metastatic adrenal cancer patient also responded nicely to Metformin alone https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31508193/

Case 6: Complete Remission of Stage IV Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer after Drinking Silver Nanoparticles Solution

A case report by oncologists and scientists from Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Dallas, Texas; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

This case report describes a 78-year-old male diagnosed with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer. Although he has received all the conventional treatment options including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, his cancer continues to evolve and metastasize at different locations. After pulmonary and hepatic metastases have appeared, he was recommended to transition to hospice as he was found to be a poor candidate for salvage therapy given his decline in functional capacity and multiple recurrences despite aggressive anticancer therapy.

After the diagnosis of metastatic disease, the patient began to manufacture and consume an AgNP solution. 3 months after pre-hospice imaging and after starting to ingest AgNP solution, showed complete disappearance of all pulmonary and liver metastases as well as of previously seen nodes in the neck (figure below). This recovery and complete resolution of cancer at all sites persisted for 36 months and is ongoing.

Reference: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hed.25492

Case 7: Complete Remission of Pulmonary Spindle Cell Carcinoma After Treatment With Oral Germanium Sesquioxide

A case report by oncologists at the Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology and Oncology (Dr. Mainwaring) and Pulmonary Medicine (Drs. Poor and Harman), and Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine (Dr. Zander), University of Florida College of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL.

A 47-year-old woman admitted with shortness of breath and cough. She had been in good health until 5 months earlier, when she noted mild throughout the left lung field. Thoracic CT showed atelectasis of the left lung and a mass measuring 3.4 3 4.5 cm. It was deemed unresectable. Despite two additional cycles of mesna, adriamycin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine, her symptoms worsened and she had radiographic evidence of tumor progression. The patient opted to discontinue all therapy.

“While on a cruise 6 weeks later, the patient met a man who claimed that daily self-medication with germanium had cured him of oat cell carcinoma of the lung that was diagnosed 15 years earlier. The patient started daily self-medication with the same regimen (bis-betacarboxyethygermanium sesquioxide, 7.2 g qd, followed by a taper of the drug). Within a few days of beginning therapy, she felt her lungs “opening up” and required less supplemental oxygen. A chest radiograph 3 months later revealed 60% clearing of the left lung, and thoracic CT scans at 5 and 7 months showed near complete disappearance of the thoracic mass (Fig 1, bottom, B). At the time of this report, 4 years after initial diagnosis, the patient continues to show no evidence of recurrent disease and has also continued to take low-dose germanium sesquioxide. The patient denies any significant side effects from her treatment.”

A CT of the thorax at the level of the aortic arch revealing a 3.5 3 4.5 3 6.5-cm left hilar mass.
A CT of the thorax after self-medication with germanium sesquioxide for 5 months, showing resolution of the hilar mass and left lung atelectasis.

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10669709/

Case 8: Complete Remission of Melanoma metastasis after the use of the plant Thymus vulgaris

A case report by the oncologists at Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department Hospital Clinic I Provincial Barcelona IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; Dermatology Department Hospital Clinic, Villarroel 170 08036 Barcelona, Spain.

“A 73-year-old white woman was referred to our melanoma unit in April 1999 with multiple bluish, cutaneous nodules over her left leg, which had appeared during the previous 8 months. The patient was staged at AJCC stage III, but she refused the proposed treatment, which consisted of hyperthermic perfusion of the left leg with melfalan and interferon.

A few weeks later, a progressive disappearance of all nodules was noted (Image B below). Histologic examinations confirmed the complete regression of cutaneous metastases. The patient stated that she had been using dried thyme (ground leaves and stems) for herbal tea and for topical applications in compresses over the lesions. No evidence of disease in this patient is apparent after 5 years of follow-up.”

After the use of dried thyme (ground leaves and stems) for herbal tea and for topical applications

Reference: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(04)03675-8/fulltext

Case 9: Complete Remission of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Treatment with low-dose Thalidomide

A case report from Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine,Keelung, Taiwan.

“A 65-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis that was diagnosed having multiple HCCs. The patient was assessed as inoperable and unsuited for TACE or systemic chemotherapy. After discussing the therapeutic alternatives, he decided to receive low-dose thalidomide (100 mg daily) therapy. He agreed to receive thalidomide 50 mg twice daily, after obtaining written informed consent and followed at an outpatient clinic. Three weeks after thalidomide therapy, he occasionally complained of skin eruptions with itching. Fortunately, follow-up liver biochemicaltests, seruma-fetoprotein level, and dynamic computed tomography showed complete remission of the HCCs 4.5 months after thalidomide treatment and this was documented for more than 22 months without evidence of tumor recurrence.”

References: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2351979714000279

Case 10: Complete Remission of Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer after a Combo of Chemo, Paricalcitol and Hydroxychloroquine

A case reported by a physician specialized in Allergy and Asthma who was also the cancer patient.

The physician had a diagnostic of pancreatic cancer with scattered peritoneal metastases and a CA19-9 of 11,575 U/mL. Working with physicians from Weill-Cornell and Johns Hopkins, he began treatment with gemcitabine and capecitabine, plus IV Paricalcitol (25 mcg 3x’s/week) and hydroxychloroquine (600 mg BID). Following this combo, he achieved a durable complete remission, as reported 2 years latter, at the time of writing, and he remains active and free of cancer. (https://www.facebook.com/stephen.bigelsen).

Reference: http://apc.amegroups.com/article/view/4269/5197

Two Extra Case Reports of Remissions:

Extra Case 1: Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Dramatic Response to Dobesilate

Dramatic response to inhaled dobesilate in a patient with lung squamous cell cancer

Approximately 85% of lung cancer cases are classified as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that includes two predominant subtypes, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which comprise 40% and 25% of NSCLC, respectively.

In this case report, a a patient with lung squamous cell cancer was treated by his doctors with inhaled dobesilate (Dihydroxy-2,5 benzenesulphonate). The drug (500 mg twice a day), was administered as vaporised solution, mixed with the aspirated air, using an electronic apparatus to dispense medication in aerosol form. After only 5 days after the administration of the drug, a drastic reduction of the tumor mass has been achieved (Ref.).

The image above presents the right principal bronchus before (left) and after (right) of 5 days dobesilate treatment. Calcium dobesilate (Doxium) is a veno-tonic drug, widely prescribed in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East for three main indications: chronic venous disease, diabetic retinopathy and the symptoms of haemorrhoidal attack. (Ref.)

This medication is cheap and easily available. It is thought that it’s impressive and unexpected anti-cancer activity obtained above is due to its fibroblast growth inhibition capabilities.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4544079/

Extra Case 2: Regression of the Cerebral Metastasis and Pleurisy in an Advanced Breast Cancer after introducing Inhibition of Coagulation and Fibrinolysis

Case report from the Departments of Radiotherapy and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lund, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, Sweden: “A case of advanced breast cancer with cerebral metastasis and pleurisy is reported in which irradiation and cytostatic had failed to retard progressive growth and spread of the tumor. Adjuvant therapy with heparin combined with the fibrinolytic inhibitor tranexamic acid was followed by regression of the cerebral metastasis as well as the pleurisy. When last seen one year later, the patient was free from symptoms.” “the patient was given heparin subcutaneously in a dose of 12 500 IU twice a day, combined with the fibrinolytic inhibitor tranexamic acid (Cykl~kapron~I )g three times a day. This treatment had a dramatic effect on the pleurisy and made further thoracocentesis unnecessary. At a check X-ray two weeks later, no pleural effusion could be demonstrated. The serum no longer contained FDP. After one month’s treatment with heparin and tranexamic acid, combined chemotherapy was repeated every two weeks (vincristine, methotrexate, leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil). Neither leukopenia nor thrombocytopenia recurred.”

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/899870/