Posted on 10/08/2023 7:34:21 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating yet all-too-common condition, which can severely affect quality of life for patients undergoing treatment. For those struggling with CRF, there have been no effective pharmaceutical treatments for the constellation of symptoms that together define the syndrome.
In a new study by researchers, the team found that a metabolism-targeting drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) helped alleviate CRF in mice, without interfering with cancer treatments. The findings are a pathway for future CRF research that may someday lead to a new therapy for patients.
"This study identifies dichloroacetate, an activator of glucose oxidation, as the first intervention, and particularly the first metabolism-focused intervention, to prevent the whole syndrome of cancer-related fatigue in preclinical models," said Rachel Perry.
Researchers used tumor-bearing mouse models to investigate the effectiveness of DCA in treating cancer-related fatigue for patients living with melanoma. The group found that DCA did not affect the rates of tumor growth or compromise the effectiveness of immunotherapy or chemotherapy in two mouse cancer models. DCA also significantly preserved physical function and motivation in mice with late-stage tumors.
The data suggests that DCA treatment may have several positive effects, including reducing oxidative stress in muscle tissue of tumor-bearing mice. The researchers said DCA could be a practice-changing approach in the future, when used as an adjuvant therapy to treat cancer-related fatigue.
"We hope that this research will provide the bedrock for future clinical trials using dichloroacetate—an FDA-approved drug for another indication (lactic acidosis)—to treat the debilitating syndrome of cancer-related fatigue," said Perry.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I did see a sodium salt version of this available in capsules, on one site.
I’m feeling a little low on energy.
Fix me a glass of chorine and acetate and make it a double!!
Yes. I believe that is the same site I saw for "Snake Oil?"
I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer nine years ago. The cancer-related fatigue and hot flashes from treatment were horrible. Eventually went to the MD Anderson fatigue clinic and got a prescription for Adderall. That helped a great deal.
About 4 months ago, I apparently had a minor TIA. Since then, the fatigue has gotten far worse. Walking any distance at all is very tiring, but I know I have to increase my walking in order to help with that.
Hope this clinical trial will eventually help me.
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