Green Tea May Negate the Benefits of Velcade®

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:32 Written by Administrator Thursday, 16 April 2009 02:46

Consumption of green tea may be contraindicated for patients who are receiving treatment with Velcade® (bortezomib), as the polyphenols in green tea may actually negate the therapeutic benefits of the drug, according to the results of a study published in Blood.

Velcade is a proteosome inhibitor that is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Proteosomes are proteins found in virtually all cells. They are responsible for the breakdown and reuse of a cell’s other proteins. Proteosomes regulate several aspects of cellular activity, including survival. By inhibiting proteosomes, Velcade has demonstrated an ability to reduce cellular survival.

Green tea has often been lauded as a “miracle herb,” and many holistic healthcare practitioners advocate for heavy use of it. Green tea contains a polyphenol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that has been shown to prevent cancer cells by changing the way normal cells react to potential carcinogens entering the body. EGCG also appears to create chemical changes that kill active cancer cells in multiple myeloma, breast, cervical, and colon cancer tumors.  As a result, many cancer patients turn to green tea with the hopes that it will help in the fight against cancer. However, recent research indicates that green tea may have its drawbacks.

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Do We Know What Causes Multiple Myeloma?

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:33 Written by Administrator Thursday, 16 April 2009 03:21

Scientists still do not know exactly what causes most cases of multiple myeloma. However, they have made progress in understanding how certain changes in DNA can cause plasma cells to become cancerous. DNA is the chemical that carries the instructions for nearly everything our cells do. Some genes (parts of our DNA) contain instructions for controlling when our cells grow and divide. Certain genes that promote cell division are called oncogenes. Others that slow down cell division or cause cells to die at the appropriate time are called tumor suppressor genes. Cancers can be caused by mistakes, or defects, in the DNA called mutations that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes.

Recent studies have found that abnormalities of some oncogenes (such as c-myc) develop early in the course of plasma cell tumors. Changes in other oncogenes (such as N-ras and K-ra) are more often found in myeloma after bone marrow relapse, and changes in tumor suppressor genes (such as p53) are associated with spread to other organs.

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Treatments and drugs

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:35 Written by Administrator Monday, 20 April 2009 03:18

Generally, if you have multiple myeloma and aren't experiencing symptoms, you don't need treatment. However, your doctors will likely monitor your condition at variable intervals, checking for signs — such as increasing levels of M protein in your blood or urine — that indicate the disease is progressing. If it is, you may need treatment to help prevent symptoms. In people diagnosed with asymptomatic multiple myeloma, the risk of developing symptoms is about 10 percent a year for the first five years after learning that they have the disease.

If you're experiencing symptoms, treatment can help relieve pain, control complications of the disease, stabilize your condition and slow the progress of the disease.

Standard treatments for myeloma
Though there's no cure for multiple myeloma, with good treatment results you can usually return to near-normal activity. The appropriate multiple myeloma treatment depends on your needs, medical status and general health. You may also wish to consider approved clinical trials as an option.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 16 April 2009 17:12 Written by Administrator Thursday, 16 April 2009 16:51

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