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Case Report: Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) inhibition of the “Warburg Effect” in a human cancer patient: complete response in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after disease progression with rituximab-CHOP

Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes volume 45, pages 307–315 (2013)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 08 May 2013

Abstract

The uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the tumors of various cancer types demonstrates the key role of glucose in the proliferation of cancer. Dichloroacetate is a 2-carbon molecule having crucial biologic activity in altering the metabolic breakdown of glucose to lactic acid. Human cell line studies show that dichloroacetate switches alter the metabolomics of the cancer cell from one of glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, and in doing so restore mitochondrial functions that trigger apoptosis of the cancer cell. Reports of dichloroacetate in human subjects are rare. The authors contacted individuals from Internet forums who had reported outstanding anti-cancer responses to self-medication with dichloroacetate. With informed consent, complete medical records were requested to document response to dichloroacetate, emphasizing the context of monotherapy with dichloroacetate. Of ten patients agreeing to such an evaluation, only one met the criteria of having comprehensive clinic records as well as pathology, imaging and laboratory reports, along with single agent therapy with dichloroacetate. That individual is the focus of this report. In this case report of a man with documented relapse after state-of-the-art chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a significant response to dichloroacetate is documented with a complete remission, which remains ongoing after 4 years. Dichloroacetate appears to be a novel therapy warranting further investigation in the treatment of cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Strategic Cancer Alliance, 538 Granite Street, Ashland, OR, 97520, USA

    Stephen B. Strum

  2. American Society of Clinical Oncology, 538 Granite Street, Ashland, OR, 97520, USA

    Stephen B. Strum

  3. American Urological Association, 538 Granite Street, Ashland, OR, 97520, USA

    Stephen B. Strum

  4. International Strategic Cancer Alliance, 873 E. Baltimore Pike #333, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA

    Örn Adalsteinsson

  5. Nuclear Medicine and PET Imaging, Radisphere Teleradiology Group, Beachwood, OH, 44022, USA

    Richard R. Black

  6. Valley Radiology Consultants, Poway, CA, 92064, USA

    Dmitri Segal

  7. Life Extension Foundation, 5760 S. Scenic Drive, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, 49783, USA

    Nancy L. Peress

  8. Life Extension Foundation, 9114 Steeplebush Court, Annandale, VA, 22003-4051, USA

    James Waldenfels

Authors
  1. Stephen B. Strum
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  2. Örn Adalsteinsson
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  3. Richard R. Black
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  4. Dmitri Segal
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  5. Nancy L. Peress
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  6. James Waldenfels
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Correspondence to Stephen B. Strum.

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Strum, S.B., Adalsteinsson, Ö., Black, R.R. et al. Case Report: Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) inhibition of the “Warburg Effect” in a human cancer patient: complete response in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after disease progression with rituximab-CHOP. J Bioenerg Biomembr 45, 307–315 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-012-9496-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-012-9496-2

Keywords

  • Dichloroacetate
  • DCA
  • non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • NHL
  • PET
  • PET/CT
  • Glycolysis
  • Metabolomics
  • Warburg