A B vitamin, niacin or vitamin B3, has been shown to improve the immune response to prevent cancer stem cells growing in Glioblastoma patients, increasing survival significantly, especially when used with TMZ.
Cumming School of Medicine researchers at the University of Calgary have shown that the B vitamin niacin (B3) activates immune system T-cells to fight Glioma stem cells and increase survival when used on its own. When used with Temozolomide that effect is multiplied and increased survival goes from 40 days to 150 days in mice.
“It is a remarkable result. While it’s not a cure, it’s a promising step forward against this incurable disease,” commented Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, Professor in the departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Oncology.
“The brain tumour stem cells for glioblastoma have been very resistant to treatment, so instead of targeting those cells we targeted the immune system to help the body to attack and destroy the stem cells,” He added.
The research team screened 1,040 compounds and found niacin the characteristics specifically needed to activate immune cells, especially myeloid cells to inhibit the growth of brain tumour initiating stem cells. The findings were confirmed by electron microscopy.
Chris Woollams, former Oxford University Biochemist added, “We have long known of research on B vitamins and their ability to nourish healthy brain cells and inhibit cancerous cells. In PPs, we encourage all glioma patients to take a B complex containing niacin. We also use Butyrate, a compound produced by a group of gut bacteria. Butyrate is more powerful that niacin, and has more benefits.”
Go to: Brain Tumour vaccine performs well in trial
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Reference
- https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-study-finds-common-vitamin-may-help-our-immune-system-battle-deadly-brain-tumour