Which botanicals or other unconventional anticancer agents should we take to clinical trial?

J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007 Summer;5(3):125-9. doi: 10.2310/7200.2007.011.

Abstract

There is significant public and scientific interest as regards unconventional anticancer agents (complementary and alternative medicine [CAM] agents). This article describes five principles pertaining to the question of which CAM agents should be taken to clinical trial: (1) many CAM agents have been proposed as cancer treatments, far more than could possibly be studied in clinical trials; (2) claims by patients or practitioners are generally unhelpful in choosing which CAM agents to test; (3) laboratory studies can help determine which CAM agents to take to trial and with which cointerventions; (4) preliminary laboratory studies are essential to confirm safety before trials can be considered; and (5) the vast majority of anticancer CAM agents will be ineffective; our aim should be to discard agents from consideration as rapidly as possible.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / adverse effects
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic*
  • Complementary Therapies*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Herb-Drug Interactions*
  • Herbal Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / diet therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Plants, Medicinal / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants