Introduction
Most of the studies on cancer prevention have been done by researchers in the field of public health, and their data were obtained from statistical analyses of mass populations. However, we have proposed a new diagnostic system consisting of a tumor marker combination assay (employing specific tumor markers, associated tumor markers and growth-related tumor markers). With this new diagnostic system, we can classify tumor stages and perform risk assessment in individuals. A change for the worse or improvement of the corresponding stage of the actual tumor based on the tumor marker response was evaluated in presumably healthy Japanese after subjecting them to different cancer prevention methods.
In the present study, we surveyed the independent effects of physical exercise, stress reduction, change in life-style, change in diet, supplementation of vitamins A, C and E, smoking cessation, our special refreshment therapy and herbal medicine (Sun Advance(R)) in two high-risk groups (tumor stages IV and V). These groups had been classified according to our tumor marker combination assay. Evaluation of primary cancer prevention methods was made by calculation of the ratio of improvement against change for the worse.
Subjects and methods
1. Subjects.
Over a 5.5-year period (1984-1989), we performed mass screening for early cancer and health-risk assessment using this tumor marker combination assay, in a presumably healthy population (4972 individuals) in Japan. Out of these screenees, the subjects of this survey included 931 individuals (376 males and 555 females) who attended our screening twice or more.
2. Tumor stage classification and risk assessment according to the natural history of
cancer.
Using 10 tumor markers (CEA, ferritin, IAP, RNase, sialic acid, ALP isoenzymes, CA19-9, heat-stable ALP, and TPA), we evaluated the tumor stage of each individual. The assay was performed at ]east 2 times, first before the start of the cancer primary prevention program, and second when the subjects of the study were evaluated.
3. Primary cancer prevention program.
The program included 10 items, as shown in Figure 1. Each individual chose one item only and reported whether or not they were continuing to follow the program in a medical questionnaire at the time of the tumor marker combination assay. The items were: change in life-style (change in sleeping habits), change in diet (eating yellow and green vegetables every day), supplementation of vitamins A, C and E, smoking cessation, maintaining the life-style change, our special refreshment therapy, and herbal medicine. The control subjects did not carry out any part of the prevention program. Subjects who followed their chosen item of the program for at least 3 months were included in the analysis.
Results
Effects of each item with regard to the risk assessment for cancer.
In this survey, the rate of improvement according to the item chosen was as follows:
herbal medicine (Sun Advance®), 46.5%; Refreshment Therapy, 40.9%; smoking
cessation, 37.5%; change in life style (sleeping pattern), 27.6%; supplementation with
vitamin A, C and E, 25.7%; maintaining change in life style, 22.1%; change in diet, 22.2%;
taking exercise, 21.2%n; stress reduction, 19.0%; none of above (control), 15.9%n. The
rate of a change for the worse was as follows: control, 53.4%; stress reduction, 42.7%;
exercise, 42.5%; change in sleeping pattern, 41.7%; change in diet, 39.1%; supplementation
of vitamin A, C and E, 39.1%; maintaining change in life-style, 38.4%; smoking cessation,
25.0%;
herbal medicine (Sun Advance®), 18.3%; Refreshment Therapy, 24.3%.
Thus, the ratio of improvement against change for the worse was as follows: herbal medicine (Sun Advance®), 2.54; Refreshment Therapy, 1.68; smoking cessation, 1.50; change in sleeping pattern, 0.66; supplementation of vitamins A, C and E, 0.66; change in diet, 0.57; exercise, 0.50; stress reduction, 0.44; none of above (control) number, 0.30.
Discussion
In screencees who received our tumor marker combination assay, the abnormal tumor marker
levels were restored io normal by our primary cancer prevention program in a relatively
short term. This change indicated a reduction in
the risk for cancer. As a result of this prevention program, no cancer has occurred among
the screenees since 1986.
Our tumor marker combination assay can give clear results in each individual and the effect of cancer prevention can be evaluated in a relatively short time. Thus, the tumor marker combination assay can be considered to contribute to smoking cessation, change in diet and motivation of cancer prevention and elevation of consciousness for primary cancer prevention. Subjects who undergo the tumor marker combination assay become aware of the possibility of primary cancer prevention. They are motivated to change harmful habits such as smoking and poor nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to follow a program for cancer prevention.
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Effects of improvement of life-style and preventive treatments
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Risk Assessment
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| preventive items | No.of cases | better | no change | worse | better/worse |
| quitting smoking | 88 | 33(37.5) | 33(37.5) | 22(25.0) | 1.5 |
| sleeping pattern | 127 | 35(27.6) | 39(30.7) | 53(41.7) | 0.66 |
| nutrition of Vit. A,C,E | 327 | 84(25.7) | 115(35.2) | 128(39.1) | 0.66 |
| dietary habits | 504 | 112(22.2) | 195(38.7) | 197(39.1) | 0.57 |
| physical exercise | 226 | 48(21.2) | 82(36.3) | 96(42.5) | 0.50 |
| stress reduction | 358 | 68(19.0) | 137(38.3) | 153(42.7) | 0.44 |
| Refreshment Therapy | 115 | 47(40.9) | 40(34.8) | 28(24.3) | 1.68 |
| herb medicine (Sun Advnace®) |
71 | 33(46.5) | 25(35.2) | 13(18.3) | 2.54 |
| control | 176 | 28(15.9) | 54(30.70 | 94(53.4) | 0.30 |
References
1. Kawakubo T., Kobayashi T.: Cancer screening and cancer detection rate by serum tumor
marker combination assay. J. Jpn. Hygiene. 42:284, 1987.
2. Jo T., Kawakubo T., Kobayashi T.: Effects of anti-tumor herbal medicine "Sun
Advance" in primary and secondary cancer prevention. Proc. Symp. WAKANYAKU, 2:63()-631,
1985.
3. Kobayashi T., Kawakubo T., Ohki M., et al.: Usefulness of the tumor marker combination
assay for the diagnosis of various kinds of early cancer. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual
Meeting of Tumor Markers 5:263-264, 1989.
4. Kobayashi T., Kawakubo T.: Prospective investigation of tumor markers in early cancer
screening and risk assessment. Cancer 73(7):1946-53, 1994.
This information is provided by Gordon
Research Institute.
Dr. Garry F. Gordon | Send email