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Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 5, No. 4,
350-355 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1534735406294226
Effect of Homeopathic Treatment on Gene Expression in Copenhagen Rat Tumor Tissues
Rajesh L. Thangapazham, MS
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India
N. V. Rajeshkumar, PhD
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
Anuj Sharma, MS
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India
Jim Warren, MS
Anoop K. Singh, PhD
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
John A. Ives, PhD
Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia
Jaya P. Gaddipati, PhD
Radha K. Maheshwari, PhD
Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
Wayne B. Jonas, MD
Samueli Institute, 1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314 wjonas{at}siib.org
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that the inability to undergo apoptosis is an important factor in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Agents that induce apoptosis may inhibit tumor growth and provide therapeutic benefit. In a recent study, the authors found that certain homeopathic treatments produced anticancer effects in an animal model. In this study, the authors examined the immunomodulating and apoptotic effects of these remedies. Materials and Methods: The authors investigated the effect of a homeopathic treatment regimen containing Conium maculatum, Sabal serrulata, Thuja occidentalis, and a MAT-LyLu Carcinosin nosode on the expression of cytokines and genes that regulate apoptosis. This was assessed in prostate cancer tissues, extracted from animals responsive to these drugs, using ribonuclease protection assay or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: There were no significant changes in mRNA levels of the apoptotic genes bax, bcl-2, bcl-x, caspase-1, caspase-2, caspase-3, Fas, FasL, or the cytokines interleukin (IL)–1 , IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–ß, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-, IL-2, and interferon- in prostate tumor and lung metastasis after treatment with homeopathic medicines. Conclusions: This study indicates that treatment with the highly diluted homeopathic remedies does not alter the gene expression in primary prostate tumors or in lung metastasis. The therapeutic effect of homeopathic treatments observed in the in vivo experiments cannot be explained by mechanisms based on distinct alterations in gene expression related to apoptosis or cytokines. Future research should explore subtle modulations in the expression of multiple genes in different biological pathways.
Key Words: homeopathy • Carcinosin • MAT-LyLu • Copenhagen rats • apoptosis • cytokines • metastasis
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