Exploring a broad spectrum, multi-targeted model of cancer therapy

As regular readers of our page know, Dr. Block is considered by many to be a pioneer in the world of integrative oncology. So it made sense that when Leroy Lowe, a business professor in Nova Scotia and founder of the organization “Getting to Know Cancer” was looking for an ally to help develop a new paradigm for cancer treatment, he reached out to Dr. Block. Lowe studies the biology of cancer and is convinced that today’s molecular target therapies are too narrowly focused, as cancers usually have many different mutations driving their growth. Lowe’s interest lies in developing new therapies that suppress several mutations, instead of just one. He was aware that Dr. Block has written extensively on the concept of multiple therapeutic targeting of cancers to address their diverse metabolic and molecular growth pathways, and that he has incorporated this multi-targeted approach into the clinical treatment program at the Block Center. In Life Over Cancer (Bantam, 2009), Dr. Block defined the clinical implementation of an approach that is both broad-spectrum and target-specific. Lowe and Block brought together their mutual expertise and, using The Block Center’s model of care as the foundation, came up with a broad-spectrum, integrative cancer therapy based on combining beneficial plant- and food-based chemicals that are able to target multiple growth pathways. In order to give this model its necessary scientific underpinnings, and with Dr. Block’s scientific direction and Lowe’s organizational expertise, a task force of scientists from around the world was assembled.

This task force completed an in-depth scientific review of the biology of cancer and the capabilities of natural phytochemicals as well as other options including minerals, hormones such as melatonin and low-toxicity drugs. The work of the task force was named the “Halifax Project.” The initial call for participation by interested scientist gathered a flood of responses.  More than 700 cancer scientists and clinical researchers expressed interest in participating in the project.  The new paradigm had really hit a raw nerve for the scientific community, due to a wide awareness of the limitations of targeted therapies as well as the benefits of natural chemicals.  A group of 180 scientists was finally selected for the project, and divided into 12 teams.

The teams wrote thorough reviews of the main cancer-driving growth pathways, called hallmarks of cancer.  They nominated crucial molecular targets for each pathway, and found natural low-toxicity chemicals that would hit each of these targets.  The targets and chemicals were cross-checked to make sure they would not interfere with each other.  All the reviews are published in a special issue of Seminars in Cancer Biology that was released on November 18^th. Dr. Block, along with Dr. Anupam Bishayee of Larkin Health Sciences Institute, acted as a Guest Editor for the special issue. Dr Block is also the lead author of an overview paper that summarizes the entire project, titled “Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment” (http://tinyurl.com/ptqfo7r). All 180 team members coauthored the paper, signifying wide international scientific endorsement of this innovative idea.

According to Dr. Block, “This new therapeutic paradigm results from an exciting and challenging three years of work by innovative cancer researchers from 22 countries.  Research on the broad-spectrum model has the potential to fill major gaps in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention that exist today by giving us a tool to attack the multiple genetic mutations that account for cancer’s development and growth, as well as its resistance to treatment. The broad-spectrum model is based squarely on the insights of integrative cancer treatment as practiced at the Block Center. We already assess multiple cancer-stimulating mechanisms in our patients, and individually prescribe for them diet alterations and supplements directly aimed at those mechanisms.  The Halifax Project has the potential to transform the insights of this type of treatment into medications that can be used to help patients around the world. And the thorough scientific grounding of the broad-spectrum model is helping us to further refine the practice at the Block Center, and take us to a new level in individualizing treatments.”

The researchers involved in the Halifax Project believe that this model could ultimately lead to a new generation of cancer therapies that may assist cancer patients who would otherwise lack therapeutic options. In addition, it may provide a low-toxicity, low-cost, sustainable approach to malignant disease sorely needed to address the 70% global increase in cancer expected by 2025, and the 84% increase expected among developing countries. The next step for the new therapeutic paradigm is to garner financial support for the many researchers who are interested in exploring the best ways to implement a broad-spectrum model. A concerted effort to attract funding from national and international agencies and foundations is now underway.

For patients who are interested in obtaining the benefits of the broad-spectrum model now, Block says that the best strategy is to pursue individualized and innovative integrative treatment.  “At our Center, we have already researched how diet, exercise and biobehavioral strategies may affect multiple cancer targets.  Through the availability of cancer terrain testing and molecular genetic tumor testing we can assess what are the most likely cancer-driving pathways for each patient.  This allows us to tailor recommendations for diet, exercise, behavioral therapies and natural products and off-label pharmaceuticals so they can work together to improve outcomes for each patient.”