Medical Condition Neoplasms

Source:

2009 icd-9-cm 140-239 neoplasms

Active Ingredients used for Neoplasms:

Zinc, Copper, Essiac, Bromelain, Vitamin D, Melatonin, Iodine, Coenzyme Q10, Beta Carotene, Selenium, Aloe, Folate

Active Ingredient	Uses based on scientific evidence	Grade*
aloe (aloe vera)	there is early evidence that oral aloe may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. further study is needed in this area to clarify if it is aloe itself or other factors that may cause this benefit.	c
beta-carotene	while diets high in fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene have been shown to potentially reduce the incidence of certain cancers, results from randomized controlled trials with oral supplements do not support this claim. there is some concern that beta-carotene metabolites with pharmacological activity can accumulate and potentially have cancer-causing (carcinogenic) effects. a higher, statistically significant incidence of lung cancer in male smokers who took beta-carotene supplements has	d
black tea (camellia sinensis)	several studies have explored a possible association between regular consumption of black tea and rates of cancer in populations. this research has yielded conflicting results, with some studies suggesting benefits, and others reporting no effects. laboratory and animal studies report that components of tea, such as polyphenols, have antioxidant properties and effects against tumors. however, effects in humans remain unclear, and these components may be more common in green tea rather than in	c
bromelain	there is not enough information to recommend for or against the use of bromelain in the treatment of cancer, either alone or in addition to other therapies.	c
coenzyme q10	further research is needed to determine if coq10 may help cancer when used with other therapies. cancer should be treated by a qualified healthcare provider.	c
copper	preliminary research reports that lowering copper levels theoretically may arrest the progression of cancer by inhibiting blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). copper intake has not been identified as a risk factor for the development or progression of cancer.	c
cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon)	based on a small amount of laboratory research, cranberry has been proposed for cancer prevention. study is needed in humans before a strong recommendation can be made.	c
dandelion (taraxacum officinale)	limited animal research does not provide a clear assessment of the effects of dandelion on tumor growth. there is a lack of well-conducted human studies currently available in this area.	c
devil's claw (harpagophytum procumbens dc)	devil's claw is used to treat several types of pain, including osteoarthritis and low back pain. one case report indicates it may also be helpful for pain due to bone metastases. more research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be drawn.	c
echinacea (echinacea angustifolia dc, echinacea pallida, echinacea purpurea)	there is a lack of clear human evidence that echinacea affects any type of cancer.	c
essiacâ®	there is a lack of properly conducted published human studies using essiac for cancer. currently, there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of this herbal mixture as a therapy for any type of cancer.	c
folate (folic acid)	preliminary evidence surrounding the use of folate seems promising for decreasing the risk of breast, cervical, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal cancer. however, currently there is insufficient evidence available to recommend folate supplementation for any type of cancer prevention or treatment. please follow the advice of a qualified healthcare provider in this area.	c
garlic (allium sativum l.)	preliminary human studies suggest that regular consumption of garlic (particularly unprocessed garlic) may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer including gastric and colorectal malignancies. some studies use multi-ingredient products so it is difficult to determine if garlic alone may play a beneficial role. further well-designed human clinical trials are needed to conclude whether eating garlic or taking garlic supplements may prevent or treat cancer.	c
ginseng (american ginseng, asian ginseng, chinese ginseng, korean red ginseng, panax ginseng: panax spp. including p. ginseng c.c. meyer and p. quinquefolius l., excluding eleutherococcus senticosus)	a few studies report that ginseng taken by mouth may lower the risk of developing some cancers, especially if ginseng powder or extract is used. study results are controversial, and more research is needed before a clear conclusion can be reached.	c
green tea (camellia sinensis)	overall, the relationship of green tea consumption and human cancer remains inconclusive. one clinical trial showed minimal benefit using green tea extract capsules for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. further research is needed before a recommendation can be made.	c
iodine (i)	the potential role of non-radioactive iodine in cancer care remains unknown. antioxidant and anti-tumor effects have been proposed based on laboratory research. in contrast, some scientists have asserted that tumors may uptake more iodine than normal tissues. it has been suggested that high rates of gastric (stomach) cancer or low rates of breast cancer in coastal japan may be due to high iodine intake, although this has not been demonstrated scientifically. povidone-iodine solutions have been	c
lavender (lavandula angustifolia miller)	perillyl alcohol (poh), derived from lavender, might be beneficial in the treatment of some types of cancer. this research has focused on cancers of the pancreas, breast, and intestine. preliminary small studies in humans suggest safety and tolerability of poh, but effectiveness has not been established.	c
melatonin	there are several early-phase and controlled human trials of melatonin in patients with various advanced stage malignancies, including brain, breast, colorectal, gastric, liver, lung, pancreatic, and testicular cancer, as well as lymphoma, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and soft-tissue sarcoma. currently, no clear conclusion can be drawn in this area. there is not enough definitive scientific evidence to discern if melatonin is beneficial against any type of cancer, whether it increases (or	c
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	several population (epidemiological) studies report that dietary omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon, or prostate cancer. better-designed studies are necessary before a clear conclusion can be drawn.	c
seaweed, kelp, bladderwrack (fucus vesiculosus)	several brown algae, including bladderwrack ( fucus vesiculosus ), appear to suppress the growth of various cancer cells in animal and laboratory studies. however, currently there is a lack of reliable human studies available to support a recommendation for use in cancer.	c
selenium (se)	several studies suggest that low levels of selenium may be a risk factor for developing cancer, particularly gastrointestinal, gynecological, lung, colorectal, and esophageal cancer. studies have shown significantly reduced risk of some (but not all) cancers in subjects taking selenium supplements. selenium supplementation may reduce cancer incidence in men more than women. ongoing trials are examining the precise role of selenium in reducing cancer risk.	c
selenium (se)	several studies suggest that low levels of selenium (measured in the blood or in tissues such as toenail clippings) may be a risk factor for developing cancer, particularly prostate, gastrointestinal, gynecological, and colorectal cancer. population studies suggest that people with cancer are more likely to have low selenium levels than healthy matched individuals, but in most cases it is not clear if the low selenium levels are a cause or merely a consequence of disease. it remains unclear if	c
soy (glycine max [l. merr.)]	genistein, an isoflavone found in soy, has been found in laboratory and animal studies to have anti-cancer effects, such as blocking new blood vessel growth (anti-angiogenesis), acting as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (a mechanism of many new cancer treatments), or causing cancer cell death (apoptosis). in contrast, genistein has also been reported to increase the growth of pancreas tumor cells in laboratory research. until reliable human research is available, it remains unclear if dietary	c
thiamin (thiamine), vitamin b1	thiamin deficiency has been observed in some cancer patients, possibly due to increased metabolic needs. it is not clear if lowered levels of thiamin in such patients may actually be adaptive (beneficial). currently, it remains unclear if thiamin supplementation plays a role in the management of any particular type(s) of cancer.	c
turmeric (curcuma longa linn.) and curcumin	several early animal and laboratory studies report anti-cancer (colon, skin, breast) properties of curcumin. many mechanisms have been considered, including antioxidant activity, anti-angiogenesis (prevention of new blood vessel growth), and direct effects on cancer cells. currently it remains unclear if turmeric or curcumin has a role in preventing or treating human cancers. there are several ongoing studies in this area.	c
vitamin c (ascorbic acid)	dietary intake of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin c has been associated with a reduced risk of various types of cancer in population studies (particularly cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, or lung). however, it is not clear that a benefit comes specifically from the vitamin c in these foods, and vitamin c supplements have not been found to be associated with this protective effect. experts have recommended increasing dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables high in	c
vitamin c (ascorbic acid)	vitamin c has a long history of adjunctive use in cancer therapy, and although there has not been any definite evidence of a benefit from injected (or oral) vitamin c, there is evidence that it has benefit in some cases. more well-designed studies are needed before a firm recommendation can be made.	c
vitamin d	limited research suggests that synthetic vitamin d analogs may play a role in the treatment of human cancers. however, it remains unclear if vitamin d deficiency raises cancer risk, or if an increased intake of vitamin d is protective against some cancers. until additional trials are conducted, it is premature to advise the use of regular vitamin d supplementation to prevent cancer.	c
zinc	results from studies investigating the potential role of zinc in treating taste and smell disorders are contradictory. recently, a large high-quality trial showed no evidence of a benefit of zinc supplementation on taste alterations among patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. well-designed research is needed to determine if zinc contributes to the treatment of taste and smell disorders.	c

*Key to grades
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;
B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.