Insulin potentiation therapy

Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) is an unproven alternative cancer treatment using insulin as an adjunct to low-dose chemotherapy. It was promoted by a paper in the controversial and non-peer reviewed journal Medical Hypotheses.[1]

According to Quackwatch, "Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT) is one of several unproven, dangerous treatments that is promoted by a small group of practitioners without trustworthy evidence that it works."[2]

History

It was developed by Donato Perez Garcia, MD in 1930. Originally, Garcia targeted syphilis, and later tried the treatment for chronic degenerative diseases and some types of cancer.[3]

Method

Generally, a dose of insulin is injected into a vein, followed by a low dose of chemotherapy drugs when the insulin has been absorbed. The chemotherapy dose is usually 10% to 25% of the proven dose.[3] Then sugar water is injected to stop the hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) caused by the insulin injection.[3]

Efficacy

IPT has not been proven to work.[3][4] Long-term outcomes, such as survival, have never been published.[3] Four individual case studies, one small, uncontrolled clinical trial and one small prospective, randomized controlled trial have shown temporary reductions in the size of tumors for some patients.[3]

Adverse effects

The immediate risk is hypoglycemia.[3]

The use of lower than normal doses of chemotherapy can cause drug resistance, which could make future treatment at standard, proven doses ineffective.[3] For some cancers, especially breast and colon cancers, insulin may promote tumor growth.[3]

Mechanism of action

Two main ideas about how it might work have been proposed. The first idea is that insulin makes cells more permeable, so that the chemotherapy drugs are absorbed faster into cells. The other idea is that insulin might cause the cells to start dividing, which makes them more susceptible to destruction of many cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs.

Cost

Costs run up to US$2,000 per treatment session.[3] Multiple sessions are normal. Patients often pay the full cost out of pocket, because it is an unproven therapy that is not covered by health insurance.

See also
  • List of ineffective cancer treatments

References
  1. Ayre SG, Perez Garcia y Bellon D, Perez Garcia D (1986). "Insulin potentiation therapy: a new concept in the management of chronic degenerative disease". Med. Hypotheses. 20 (2): 199–210. doi:10.1016/0306-9877(86)90126-X. PMID 3526099.
  2. Baratz, Robert (10 March 2007). "Why You Should Stay Away from Insulin Potentiation". Quackwatch. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. "Insulin potentiation therapy". CAM-Cancer. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  4. Wider, Barbara (17 May 2013). "What cancer care providers need to know about CAM: the CAM-Cancer project". Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. Wiley. 18 (2): 95–100. doi:10.1111/fct.12017.


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