Therapy for Melanoma at Oasis of Hope

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Currently available chemotherapy drugs have proven to be of minimal benefit in melanoma, which tends to be highly chemoresistant. Hence, the Oasis IRT-C protocol, featuring repeated high-dose infusions of vitamin C, represents a good option for patients with this cancer. This therapy is intended to kill tumor cells selectively by causing severe oxidative stress within the tumor. Intravenous vitamin C therapy at Oasis is distinguished by novel adjunctive features such as ozone autohemotherapy, laetrile therapy and administration of the oxygen-carrier Perftec, which are intended to boost tumor oxygenation, and vitamin K, which helps to catalyze oxidant generation so as to maximize cancer cell kill. The efficacy of vitamin C therapy hinges on transfer of electrons from ascorbate (a form of vitamin C) to oxygen, which generates the oxidant superoxide. This obviously requires adequate tumor levels of oxygen, and vitamin K (menadione) can act as an intermediate in the transfer of electrons from ascorbate to oxygen.

Patients with melanoma may also elect to receive allogeneic lymphocyte immunotherapy, a novel strategy which has shown promising efficacy in recent studies and in initial clinical experience; the intent of this strategy is to optimally activate the body's dendritic cells so that they in turn can activate the cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells capable of attacking the cancer. This immunotherapy is given in the context of the IRT-C/I protocol, which includes sessions of vitamin C therapy and numerous alternative cancer treatments intended to support effective immune function. IRT-C/I may be particularly recommendable for melanoma patients, since this type of cancer tends to have an increased capacity to evoke an immune response; immunotherapies typically are more effective in melanoma than in most other types of cancer.

When patients are not in residence at Oasis, they are given a sophisticated At Home regimen featuring an array of nutraceuticals and safe drugs, intended to slow the growth and blunt the aggressiveness of residual tumor, support the immune response, suppress the angiogenic process that promotes tumor growth, and reduce risk for complications such as cachexia. Nutraceuticals and drugs employed that may be specifically beneficial in melanoma include soy isoflavones, zinc, and the drug disulfiram. Patients also receive guidance on diet and lifestyle, with the intent of decreasing the bioactivity of key hormones that promote the growth of many cancers. And all of these therapeutic options are provided in the context of an underlying philosophy that that the whole patient must be treated, not just a cancer – that the psychological and spiritual needs of the patient are as worthy of attention as physical needs.

For more information about MelanomaTreatment at Oasis of Hope, call 888-500-46736 or feel free to chat with one of our health advisors.