DCA background
Is DCA safe?
TLS (Tumour Lysis Syndrome)
DCA-Drug Interactions
DCA and Caffeine
DCA and Chemotherapy
What is the status of DCA clinical trials?
Can I take DCA on my own?
Do I qualify for DCA treatment?
Is it available?
What is the cost?
What is the duration of treatment?
I don’t live near Toronto, can I still be treated?
How do I become a Medicor DCA patient?
Press articles about DCA
Background
DCA (dichloroacetate) is a drug that was recently found to induce the death of human breast, lung and brain cancer cells that were implanted into rats, while being non-toxic to healthy cells. This research was published in Cancer Cell, 11, 37–51, January 2007. DCA has been found to kill cancer cells by a newly discovered mechanism that appears to be common to several types of cancer. DCA works by turning on the natural cell suicide system which is suppressed in cancerous cells, thus allowing them to die on their own. No formal research has yet been done to determine if it will work on cancer within the human body.
Is DCA safe?
DCA has been used in humans to treat a rare disease called “congenital lactic acidosis”, and found to have some mild to moderate side effects. Our experience so far suggests that DCA is safe to use in cancer patients under close medical supervision.
Some animal studies show that DCA can itself cause liver cancer. These studies used doses which are over 1000 times higher than what would be prescribed for cancer treatment.
We think that DCA can have 2 main categories of side effects:
Neurological:
Nerve injury in the hands and feet (“peripheral neuropathy”). Neuropathy typically takes several weeks to months to develop, and is reversible if it is caught early. In the existing literature, neuropathy from DCA appears to be age-related. We use vitamin B1 (benfotiamine or thiamine) and R(+) alpha lipoic acid to prevent and reduce the severity of peripheral neuropathy.
Sedation, confusion, hallucinations, memory problems, hand tremors. These side effects appear to be dose-dependent, and age-dependent which is consistent with existing human research on DCA that we have reviewed.
We use sustained release R(+) alpha lipoic acid to prevent/reduce these side effects. Patient feedback suggests that this supplement is effective. If you are a Medicor patient, you will receive our latest dosing guidelines for benfotiamine and alpha lipoic acid.
Gastrointestinal:
Heartburn, nausea, vomiting, indigestion. These side effects may occur with DCA, and we routinely prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (e.g. pantoprazole) to prevent them.
Other Side Effects:
Some patients experience pain at the sites of their tumour(s) within the first few days of starting DCA. This may be an indicator of the effectiveness of DCA.
Most side effects reported so far have been mild or moderate. Patients experiencing moderate side effects are usually taken off DCA as a precaution. Most side effects typically resolve within days after stopping DCA. Neuropathy can take weeks or months to improve.
TLS (Tumour Lysis Syndrome)
This is a condition in which a large number of tumour cells are rapidly killed, causing a sudden release of the contents of the dead cells into the bloodstream. It can result in abnormal heart rhythms, and kidney failure. A detailed reference article can be found here. TLS occurs most commonly in patients with a large mass of tumour cells in the body who receive chemotherapy, especially with lymphomas or acute leukemia. We have not had a single case of TLS in over 260 patients treated with DCA alone. Since DCA can enhance the effect of chemotherapy in certain cases, it may be more likely to occur if DCA is combined with chemotherapy (especially without medical supervision).
DCA-Drug Interactions
We have observed that drugs that can cause confusion or hallucinations have a potential to interact with DCA. This may include cannabinoids, benzodiazepines and other CNS drugs. Patients who receive consultations by our physicians will be assessed for potential drug interactions, and specific medical advice will be given.
All Medicor patients who receive DCA will be closely monitored by our physicians for drug side effects with routine check-ups, comprehensive lab tests, and imaging studies. We take into account our patients’ general condition, other medications, past medical history, and concurrent health problems.
DCA and Caffeine
We have received a large number of inquiries about caffeine following some anecdotal reports of enhanced DCA effect with excessive tea/caffeine intake. After conducting a limited review of our DCA patients, we have noted that patients who have shown an excellent response to DCA do not take tea/coffee or caffeine or take it in minimal amounts (1-3 cups a day). Also a few patients with high tea/caffeine consumption (5- 10 cups per day) have shown no response to DCA.
There are a number of potential harmful effects of starting high dose caffeine including increased likelihood of seizures in brain tumour patients, abnormal heart rhythms, anxiety, and insomnia. The theory behind the potential benefit of caffeine + DCA is unconfirmed so we are taking a cautious approach for now. We are presently recommending to most of our DCA patients who are thinking of starting high dose caffeine to use moderation and to check with your own doctor, naturopath or dietician for specific advice.
DCA and Chemotherapy
Until now, there has been no scientific evidence to support the use of DCA along with chemotherapy. For the first time in North America, Medicor and ORT are now conducting ChemoFit tests with DCA and chemo combined! What this means is eligible patients can have a sample of their own tumor analyzed to see if combinations of DCA and chemo will work, and if they will work better than chemo or DCA alone. Click here to see a sample ChemoFit test report with DCA. The accuracy of the ChemoFit test ranges from 85-99%.
We have already had some exciting results showing that DCA can, in some cases, dramatically enhance the cancer-killing effects of chemo. However, there is a possibility that DCA can antagonize chemo as well. This is similar to single agent chemo being better than combination chemo for some patients. If you are a patient who is thinking of combining DCA and chemotherapy, we recommend you review our ChemoFit web page here and discuss the test with your oncologist. We also have more detailed information for physicians here.
Malignant ascites fluid samples and malignant pleural effusion samples can now be tested with ChemoFit, eliminating the need for a biopsy in some patients.
What is the status of DCA clinical trials?
Two DCA clinical trials have begun in Alberta. One will examine the effects of DCA on a type of brain tumour (50 patients), and the other will look at patients with various cancers (35 patients). If you are in the Edmonton area, we recommend you consider enrolling in one of the clinical trials. We have no further information about these trials.
Even though we have seen conclusive evidence of DCA’s effectiveness in various cancers, Medicor believes that it is essential for DCA clinical trials to be conducted. DCA is different from other drugs that undergo clinical trials because it is not a “new” drug. It has already been used for decades in humans, and has a relatively safe profile.
This means that the trials may take less time, but may still take years. Many cancer patients cannot wait this length of time. We are hopeful that information obtained from our experiences with DCA will supplement clinical trials, and help patients and the medical community.
Can I take DCA on my own?
We are aware of many patients who are currently self-medicating with DCA. Due to the complexity of cancer and its treatment, we recommend DCA to be taken only under medical supervision.
Medicor is offering DCA to eligible patients as an “off label” cancer treatment. We respect the patient’s right to choose their treatment once they know all the potential risks and benefits. All of our DCA patients understand that DCA is not yet scientifically proven as a cancer treatment.
Do I Qualify for DCA Treatment?
We are accepting new patients with a documented diagnosis of cancer (any type) preferably who:
- have failed conventional, scientifically proven treatments
- have been told by their doctor that there is no safe or effective treatment for their cancer
- are unable to take conventional treatments due to their age or concurrent medical problems
- have been treated for cancer, and have no proven options to help prevent recurrence
Is DCA available?
Yes. We obtain certified pharmaceutical grade DCA from a reputable multi-national chemical company for our patients. We have clearance from all the relevant Federal and Provincial regulatory bodies to obtain and dispense DCA. It is compounded into capsules for us by a licensed pharmacist, and dispensed from a local pharmacy to our patients. DCA can only be dispensed to patients who come under the care of our medical team.
What is the cost?
The cost of DCA treatment at Medicor is about $160-$190 per week depending on body weight. During the course of treatment, all medically-necessary doctor’s visits, blood tests and imaging are arranged at no cost, provided you have a valid Health Card from Ontario or another province. Quebec patients must pre-pay for medical services, which can be reimbursed through the Ministère de la Santé.
We will advise you when you begin treatment of the supplements that are recommended, and where they may be obtained. These are available over-the-counter at various pharmacies in Toronto. The cost of supplements is typically less than $75 per month.
What is the duration of treatment?
In order to determine if DCA is effective in treating your cancer, we recommend at least one month of treatment. If your cancer responds to the drug, therapy may continue indefinitely. If you experience significant side effects, treatment will be stopped and may be restarted later.
I don’t live near Toronto, can I still be treated?
Yes, you can come to our clinic to be evaluated, and begin treatment. After that, you may return home to continue treatment as needed with your family doctor or oncologist. If you are unable to travel, please call to discuss your options.
How do I become a Medicor patient?
Please obtain your pathology report (confirming the diagnosis of cancer), your latest CT scan or MRI (if applicable), and your latest blood test report. If you do not have a pathology report (you did not have a biopsy), we require your specialist’s notes confirming the diagnosis of cancer.
You can call us at (416) 227-0037 or email us at info@medicorcancer.com to make an appointment to discuss your individual case. We will do our best to respond to your request within 24-48 hours. A valid Health Card is required for a free consultation. Patients are only required to pay for the medication, as it is not covered by Ontario Drug Benefits. Private clinic services are available to maximize your care.
Because Medicor Cancer Centres is not affiliated with any other company or website, we cannot confirm the reliability of external, informational sources. Please contact us directly to enquire about Medicor's services, rates and data.
Please note that the Ontario College of Pharmacists requires the use of pharmaceutical grade DCA. Therefore, we are presently treating patients using our own verified source of compounded pharmaceutical grade DCA capsules. Patients wishing to bring their own DCA regrettably cannot be treated by our physicians. However, we can provide consultation services to assist you or your physician(s).