by Leandrae T. Lapinig
“Cancer remains a national health priority in the country with significant implications for individuals, families, communities, and the health system,” states the Philippine Cancer Control Program (PCCP) of the Department of Health.
A study undertaken by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health showed that of every 100,000 Filipinos, 189 are affected by cancer. About four Filipinos are dying of cancer every hour – or 96 cancer patients daily.
The Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI) says 91% of cancer occurs between the ages of 35 and above. Three-fourths of all cancer cases in the country emerge among those between the ages of 60 and above.
Incidence of cancer is higher among females than males, the PCSI says.
Among Filipino men, the six most common sites of cancer are lung, liver, colon/rectum, prostate, stomach, and leukemia. Among Filipino women, the six most common sites are breast, cervix, lung, colon/rectum, ovary, and liver.
According to the website of the Las Piñas-based Perpetual Health Medical Center (PHMC), the cost of cancer treatment in the country ranges from ₱120,000 to over ₱1 million. This causes financial strain for 40.6% of cancer patients’ families, with mean out-of-pocket expenses of ₱181,789.00.
“At least 7 in 10 cancer patients abandon treatment due to financial limitations,” the PHMC pointed out. “Urgent measures are required to establish comprehensive support systems to alleviate this burden on patients and their families.”
Now, the good news: Perhaps not too many Filipinos know that certain species of seaweed thriving in the country’s water may have anti-cancer benefits. That’s according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“Researchers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) found that polysaccharides extracted from Codium species, locally known as ‘pukpuklo’ (a seasonally-available seaweed), are effective against cancer cells and destructive enzymes associated with cancer metastasis,” said a press statement released by DOST.
The researchers, headed by Dr. Ross Dizon Vasquez, evaluated the inhibitory potential of the polysaccharide fractions isolated from Codium species. They found that “the seaweed fights destructive enzymes that aid metastasis or spread of cancer to different parts of the body.”
The Codium species used in the study were collected in Ilocos Norte, Aklan, Iloilo, and Cagayan province. “Seaweeds are potential sources of bioactive/pharmacological compound, but studies on Philippine seaweeds as source of bioactive hit molecules for treatment of diseases are very few and limited,” explained Dr. Vasquez, who is the Mammalian Tissue Culture Lab and Pharmacology Section of the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences of the university.
On why pukpuklo was singled out, he explained, “We chose it because there is no study yet on the polysaccharide content of this alga, even though it is a very popular delicacy in the northern parts of the country. It is an edible one, so there is no or less issue regarding the toxicity of the isolated compound.”
The polysaccharides (carbohydrates) were extracted using standard protocol for isolation of algal polysaccharides. That was the easier part.
“The hardest part was the collection of Codium on their sites,” Dr. Vasquez recalled. “There were times that our search was futile because of their seasonality and location. The transport from the place where we collected the seaweeds to Manila was one of the biggest problems due to permit issues and policies in local airports.”
All those were part of the challenges the research team had to hurdle. What matters most was the result. “We are happy that we found something useful and relevant,” he said. “We are grateful that most people find the results interesting.”
“For cancer patients, it still has yet a long way to go,” he admitted. “But our study is scientific proof of the safety and medical potential of this alga.”
Aside from seaweeds, another potential ally against cancer which Filipinos could use is coconut oil. The oil, however, is most potent when it’s virgin – that is, extracted through pressing without the use of heat. Thanks to the pioneering work of the late Dr. Julian Banzon and his protégé, Dr. Teresita Espino, the chemistry of virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been known and its beneficial effects on the human body have been confirmed.
Some years ago, during the First World Coconut Congress, a neonatologist pointed out that VCO can be used as an adjuvant treatment for cancer. “Clinical trials on the use of VCO in ketogenic diet as supportive treatment for cancer has been shown to be highly promising under a clinical trial at the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) in Salzburg, Austria,” said a press release circulated by the Growth Publishing.
The home-produced VCO is a recognized source of beneficial fatty acid metabolized in the liver as ketones in ketogenic diets. In the PMU clinical trial, the target is for ketogenic diet to achieve the so-called “Warburg effect,” where cancer cells are prevented from using glycolysis in order to produce the organic chemical ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) needed in the multiplication of cancer cells.
“Based on the results of rigorous preclinical and clinical studies performed thus far, the ketogenic diet would appear to be a promising and powerful option for adjuvant therapy for a range of cancers,” the PMU study said.
Dr. Mary Newport cited the PMU study in her presentation during the coconut congress. “It’s now being (used) for cancer because cancer cells like sugar. Some cancer cells use 200 times more sugar than normal cells. They ferment sugar, the mitochondria ferments sugar. They don’t metabolize it normally. But most cancer cells don’t use ketones effectively as fuel,” she said.
In her presentation, “Combining Coconut Oil and Low Carbohydrate, Higher Fat Diet for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other Diseases,” Dr. Newport said: “Ketogenic diet attempts to starve the tumor, the cancer cells. But basically, your healthy cells and your brain can use ketones. So, it can help with cancer.”
The PMU clinical trial reported anti-tumor effects of ketogenic diet in 10 types of cancer. These are glioblastoma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, prostate cancer, colon cancer, neuroblastoma, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer.
VCO is rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) that is converted to monolaurin by the human body. “When MCFAs are metabolized (in the human body), ketone bodies are created in the liver,” writes Ty Bollinger, a best-selling author, medical researcher, and health freedom advocate.
But what excites researchers about VCO is its lauric acid content. “Fifty percent of coconut oil is lauric acid, a compound found in human breast milk, which makes it one of the best food sources for this nutrient available,” Bollinger notes. Lauric acid, if you care to know, is beneficial in deterring parasites, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and viruses.
According to some studies, one tablespoon of VCO contains 14 grams of total fat, of which 12 grams are saturated. Most of the saturated fat found in most food like meat and cheese are considered long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). In comparison, the saturated fat in coconut oil mostly consisted of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
The MCTs are easier for the human body to metabolize than LCTs. “While MCTs do not shrink cancer by themselves, they have proved promising as a treatment for cancer,” a report said.
The Philippines is known for its biodiversity. Somewhere out there, there are still natural allies that can be used against cancer. What Filipino scientists can do is find them to benefit mankind. – ###
