source: http://people.tribe.net/jamesd/blog

Here is another cancer cure supplement story. Can shark cartilage shrink cancer? Cartilages are semi-soft, elastic tissues found in most animals and humans ,devoid of blood vessels. Sharks skeletons are wholly cartilage. Shark cartilage are harvested, pulverized and packaged into capsules. They are sold as dietary supplement and sadly as anticancer pills.

What kick started this idea?

How is shark cartilage related to cancer? It started when doctor John Prudden utilized cow cartilage to heal surgical wounds in the early 1950s possibly with some success. Next, he experimented with cancer patients and had 50 percent unconfirmed positive responses. Recently, Tiger Woods’ physician used similar technique to heal his worn out knee. But what really sensationalized shark cartilage is the book by William Lane PhD “Sharks don’t get Cancer” . This is a bogus claim. Sharks, as scientific studies revealed, do get cancer.

The idea behind all this

Sharks are fish known to have lesser incidence of cancer as compared to humans. This is one basis of its supposedly anti-carcinogenic property. The anti-carcinogenic property of shark cartilage involves the inhibition of blood supply for the development of tumors. To ensure a continuous supply of nutrients to feed their growth and aggressiveness, cancer cells create a network of blood supply. This process is called angiogenesis. Shark cartilage accordingly cut off this process. Consequently, because of starvation, the cancerous mass shrinks and dies naturally. Thus, shark cartilage is popularly advertised as retarding cancer growth.

The cancer research

Actually, shark cartilage hasn’t been standardized as a therapy for cancer. There is a standardized product though, AE-941 also branded as Neovastat. Neovastat underwent clinical studies. The result showed no improved survival as compared with other standard therapy. But, in the laboratory, clinical research has shown that neovastat has angiogenic properties. In humans, it can slow down blood vessel growth in some cancers. But, it hasn’t worked in lung and kidney cancers with the standard cancer treatment.

What is left?

That manufacturer of shark cartilage, Zentaris/ aeterna has stopped clinical testing. The supplement is still in the market and selling fast with 5 day supplies for $31.90. Blueberries, green tea, cranberries and turmeric, when taken daily, have the same antiangiogenic properties. They are also much cheaper. And as an added bonus, they taste much fresher and yummier. So you get a win-win condition. What’s more, you won’t smell like a fish.