INTERESTING CONFERENCE

There is a very interesting conference coming up at the New York Academy of Sciences on June 19, 2009 from 8 am to 7 pm. It is called "Circadian Disruption and Cancer" and it will bring together a diverse group of scientists to exchange information on chronobiology and cancer. Anyone seriously interested in circadian rhythms, melatonin and the chronomodulation of chemotherapy should consider attending. For a list of speakers and a full description of the conference go to the following web site:

http://www.nyas.org/events/eventDetail.asp?eventID=13829&date=6/19/2009%208:00:00%20AM

THE 2009 ASCO MEETING

Thirty thousand experts gathered in Orlando for the 45th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This is the largest and most important gathering of international scientists on cancer treatment, with more than 4,000 abstracts on advances in cancer, prevention, treatment and care.

As in years past, I was particularly interested in the state of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its relation to more conventional treatments. There were no blockbuster stories on 'targeted' therapies, as in years past. But it was noteworthy that a top story to emerge from this year's ASCO meeting concerned the power of ginger (Zingiber officinale) to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea.

This high profile study came with all the right pedigrees: it was multi-centric, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled and had an adequate size of 644 patients. The lead researcher was Julie Ryan, MD, PhD, of the University of Rochester Medical School. She and her co-authors reported that despite the widespread use of anti-emetic drugs, nausea and vomiting continues to be a problem for up to 70 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy. Their goal was to determine if small amounts of ginger were better than placebo (sugar pills) in controlling chemotherapy-related nausea.

Most of the patients were female, with a mean age of 53. They had various cancers, especially breast, colorectal and lung. The researchers reported: "All doses of ginger significantly reduced nausea." The largest reduction in nausea occurred with 0.5 grams and 1.0 grams per day (there are 28 grams in an ounce). Their conclusion: Ginger supplementation at daily doses of 0.5 to 1.0 grams "significantly aids in reduction of nausea during the first day of chemotherapy" (Ryan 2009). Presumably, this effect could be amplified by taking small amounts of ginger throughout the day. It might also be a good idea to take it before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy-although this idea was not tested in this study.

Ginger has been used for many years for controlling nausea. Nineteenth century texts spoke of adding a few drops of ginger tincture to water to control nausea (Beale 1896).What is exciting is the fact that somebody went to the trouble of testing this folk remedy scientifically and that ASCO recognized this in both the scientific sessions and in their publicity material. (Check out asco.org, where as of this writing, the ginger clinical trial is the number one story to come out of the 2009 annual meeting!)

Reed's Ginger Brew

Equally intriguing was the display booth for Reed's "all natural Jamaican-style ginger brews" in the Exhibition Hall of the meeting. There, representatives of this small "New Age" beverage company were busy giving out tastes of ginger brew (a souped-up version of ginger ale) as well as ginger chews and, yes, bits of raw ginger. They created a sensation at a meeting more typically devoted to esoteric and expensive breakthroughs in targeted chemotherapy. For me, it was like a breath of fresh air to see something so folksy elevated to an exalted position at ASCO. The representatives of Reed's told me a story-which unfortunately I did not record-of the difficulty they had in convincing ASCO to let them display their wares at the meeting. Apparently some people thought this was flirting with arrant quackery, but in the end common sense prevailed. Some oncologists seemed bemused by this intrusion of CAM into their midst.

Reed's Ginger Brew Booth at 2009 ASCO Meeting

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 Patients facing chemotherapy now have medical sanction to indulge in ginger. Reed's ginger beer is one option. If you go to their Web site (www.reedsgingerbrew.com) you will find links to other scientific studies on not just nausea relief but anti-inflammation, anti-blood clotting, and the like. I myself drink this stuff just for fun. (Although it's called ginger 'beer,' 'ale,' and 'brew' it contains no alcohol.) Their product that packs the biggest wallop is "Reed's Extra Ginger Brew." This contains 26 grams (almost an ounce) of fresh ginger root per bottle. Remember that in the clinical trial patients had the best response with just half or one gram. So a patient would probably need no more than a few sips of this amazing beverage throughout the day to control chemo-induced nausea. One could also conveniently carry around Reed's very tasty ginger chews.

Another product you might consider is Tea in a Jar Ginger. This comes from South Korea and I get it from my supermarket's tea sections for $10 per bottle. A teaspoon of this stuff added to regular tea packs quite a punch (be forewarned that it also contains some organic honey and sugar). And, of course, you could always buy raw ginger at around $5.00 per pound, thinly slice some pieces and steep it in hot water to make a homemade ginger brew. I am not sure (and there is a lively debate on this topic on the Internet) if there is any ginger in most of what passes for "ginger ale" these days.

It was certainly a nice touch to see CAM making its way to the top of the ASCO agenda in a year that featured very few other newsworthy stories. I do hope to prepare a full report on less visible scientific advances that were announced at this year's meeting. Look for that publication later this summer.

--Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.

Resources:

Beale, Lionel S. On Slight Ailments, and on Treating Disease. 4th Edition. London: Churchill, 1896.

Hickok JT, Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Ryan JL. A Phase II/III Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Nausea Caused by Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Currently Accruing URCC CCOP Cancer Control Study. Support Cancer Ther. 2007;4(4):247-250.

Ryan JL, et al. Ginger for chemotherapy-related nausea in cancer patients: A URCC CCOP randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 644 cancer patients. 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting, J Clin Oncol 27:15s, 2009 (suppl; abstr 9511).

Vutyavanich T, Kraisarin T, Ruangsri R. Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2001;97(4):577-582.

WRITTEN MOSS REPORTS

We offer written up-to-date Moss Reports on over 200 different cancer diagnoses. Each report costs $297.00, which includes periodic updates. These reports cover, in a comprehensive manner, the best conventional, alternative and complementary approaches to each diagnosis. The Moss Reports can be accessed around-the-clock at our Web site, www.cancerdecisions.com, and can be ordered either for instantaneous electronic delivery or (at an extra cost) can also be printed and shipped. For more information see our Web site or call Anne or Jacquie at 800-980-1234 (814-238-3367).

PHONE CONSULTATIONS

Ralph Moss does phone consultations for clients who have previously ordered one of our comprehensive Moss Reports on their cancer. The following is from a client who recently had a phone consultation:

"My telephone consult with Dr. Moss was very encouraging. First of all, One thinks that there is no other recourse than the traditional medical offerings. I am undergoing a trial study thinking that if this doesn't work I'm doomed and Ralph gave me three options. He was informative and knowledgeable about the subject and I thank God that he is doing this kind of work. We are looking into the three options. Also, his report on the Coley's Toxin was very interesting to read. He makes a sobering subject easy to read with the historical background and so forth." --R.K., May 1, 2009.

If you would like to set up a phone consultation (or have already done one and want to arrange a follow-up), please contact Ralph's assistant, Jacquie Johnson. Her phone number is 814-466-6514. You can usually reach her during normal EST business hours. If you get an answering machine, leave a message and she will call you back promptly. Or you can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

WHERE TO GO? - CAM RESOURCES IN SELECTED METROPOLITAN REGIONS

The Where To Go? series continues to attract favorable reviews from readers. Newly released is Complementary And Alternative (CAM) Cancer Treatments In Germany, which can be accessed by clicking here. Also, already available are Where To Go? - Houston, Where To Go? - Philadelphia, Where To Go? - Chicago and Where To Go? - Boston. These reports offer useful information on regional availability of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

For more information, or to purchase any of these reports, please click here.

CANCER DECISIONS© AND CURRENT TOPICS© REPORTS

Reports in our Cancer Decisions© series are designed to provide readers with the detailed information they need in order to make difficult treatment decisions. Currently available are:

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• Antioxidants and Cancer Treatment (Combination report)
  
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• Overcoming the Adverse Effects of Radiation Therapy
  
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