Biotherapy with the Pineal Immunomodulating Hormone Melatonin versus Melatonin plus <i>Aloe vera</i> in Untreatable Advanced Solid Neoplasms

Abstract

The possibility of natural cancer therapy has been recently suggested by advances in the knowledge of tumor immunobiology. Either cytokines such as IL-2, or neurohormones, such as the pineal indole melatonin (MLT), may activate anticancer immunity. In addition, immunomodulating substances have also been isolated from plants, particularly from Aloe vera. Preliminary clinical studies had already shown that MLT may induce some benefits in untreatable metastatic solid tumor patients, whereas, for the time being, no clinical trial has been performed with aloe products. We have carried out a clinical study to evaluate whether the concomitant administration of aloe may enhance the therapeutic results of MLT in patients with advanced solid tumors for whom no effective standard anticancer therapies are available. The study included 50 patients suffering from lung cancer, gastrointestinal tract tumors, breast cancer or brain glioblastoma, who were treated with MLT alone (20 mg/day orally in the dark period) or MLT plus A. vera tincture (1 ml twice/day). A partial response (PR) was achieved in 2/24 patients treated with MLT plus aloe and in none of the patients treated with MLT alone. Stable disease (SD) was achieved in 12/24 and in 7/26 patients treated with MLT plus aloe or MLT alone, respectively. Therefore, the percentage of nonprogressing patients (PR + SD) was significantly higher in the group treated with MLT plus aloe than in the MLT gorup (14/24 vs. 7/26, p < 0.05). The percent 1-year survival was significantly higher in patients treated with MLT plus aloe (9/24 vs. 4/26, p < 0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. This preliminary study would suggest that natural cancer therapy with MLT plus A. vera extracts may produce some therapeutic benefits, at least in terms of stabilization of disease and survival, in patients with advanced solid tumors, for whom no other standard effective therapy is available.

Phytoconstituents and biological consequences of Aloe vera: A focused review

“…Topical application inhibited contact hypersensitivity and delayed type hypersensitivity suppression by UV radiation in mice. It preserved the number and morphology of irradiated Langerhans and dendritic epidermal cells in skin (Lissoni et al 1998). It is demonstrated that the administration of with pineal indole melatonin Aloe vera enhances the therapeutic results in patients with advanced solid tumors.…”

Putative Prophylaxes of Aloe Vera for Age-Related Diseases

“…Both treatments were well tolerated. This preliminary study would suggest that natural cancer therapy with melatonin plus Aloe vera extract may produce some therapeutic benefits, at least in terms of stabilization of disease and survival, in patients with advanced solid tumors, for whom no other standard effective therapy is available [16] . The advances in the analysis of tumor immunobiology suggest the possibility of biological manipulating the efficacy and toxicity of cancer chemotherapy by endogenous or exogenous immunomodulating substances.…”

Propriedades farmacológicas da Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.

“…Foi possível evidenciar uma maior taxa de sobrevivência e de regressão do tumor, além de alívio da fadiga e astenia, quando comparados ao grupo controle. Outro estudo preliminar, feito com pacientes com câncer em estágio avançado demonstrou maior estabilização da doença e aumento do tempo de sobrevivência no grupo tratado com a combinação da A. vera e do hormônio melatonina (Lissoni et al, 1998).…”