In vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of a Calcarea carbonica derivative complex (M8) treatment in a murine melanoma model Fernando SF Guimarães1, Lucas F Andrade1, Sharon T Martins1, Ana PR Abud1, Reginaldo V Sene1, Carla Wanderer1, Inés Tiscornia2, Mariela Bollati-Fogolín2, Dorly F Buchi1, Edvaldo S Trindade1*
Abstract Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and the most rapidly expanding cancer in terms of worldwide incidence. Chemotherapeutic approaches to treat melanoma have had only marginal success. Previous studies in mice demonstrated that a high diluted complex derived from Calcarea carbonica (M8) stimulated the tumoricidal response of activated lymphocytes against B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro.
Methods: Here we describe the in vitro inhibition of invasion and the in vivo anti-metastatic potential after M8 treatment by inhalation in the B16F10 lung metastasis model.
Results: We found that M8 has at least two functions, acting as both an inhibitor of cancer cell adhesion and invasion and as a perlecan expression antagonist, which are strongly correlated with several metastatic, angiogenic and invasive factors in melanoma tumors.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that this medication is a promising non-toxic therapy candidate by improving the immune response against tumor cells or even induce direct dormancy in malignancies.
Stimulation of lymphocyte anti-melanoma activity by co-cultured macrophages activated by complex homeopathic medication
Fernando
SF Guimarães, Ana PR Abud, Simone M Oliveira, Carolina C Oliveira,
Beatriz César, Lucas F Andrade, Lucélia Donatti, Juarez Gabardo, Edvaldo
S Trindade, and Dorly F Buchi
Departamento
de Biologia Celular, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Células Inflamatórias e
Neoplásicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba – PR,
Brazil Abstract
Background Melanoma
is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and the most rapidly
expanding cancer in terms of worldwide incidence. Chemotherapeutic
approaches to treat melanoma have been uniformly disappointing. A
Brazilian complex homeopathic medication (CHM), used as an immune
modulator, has been recommended for patients with depressed immune
systems. Previous studies in mice have demonstrated that the CHM
activates macrophages, induces an increase in the number of leukocytes
and improves the murine response against Sarcoma-180
Conclusion Co-culture
of macrophages with lymphocytes in the presence of the CHM enhanced
the anti-cancer performance of lymphocytes against a very aggressive
lineage of melanoma cells. These results suggest that non-toxic
therapies using CHMs are a promising alternative approach to the
treatment of melanomas. In addition, they are attractive
combination-therapy candidates, which may enhance the efficacy of
conventional medicines by improving the immune response against tumor
cells.