title: Enzymes, trophoblasts, and cancer: the afterlife of an idea (1924-2008).
abstract: In the early 20th century, advocacy of the enzyme therapy of cancer was primarily the work of one man, John Beard, DSc (1858-1924). He and his collaborators made a determined effort to establish this mode of therapy, especially in the years 1905 to 1911. Despite a brief flowering of international interest, Beard's efforts came to naught. During the 20th century, there was a succession of American researchers who continued to investigate this topic. This included Marshall William McDuffie, MD (1882-1945), Frank LeForest Morse, MD (1876-1953), Franklin Lloyd Shively, MD (1887-1971), and William Donald Kelley (1926-2005). In central Europe, India, and other parts of the globe, the use of pancreatic enzymes as an adjuvant treatment for cancer has become a fairly routine practice, at least among those doctors who utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is also a well-established method for reducing inflammation and mitigating the adverse effects of cytotoxic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Communications, Lemont, Pennsylvania, USA. ralph@cancerdecisions.com
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004338:Drug Combinations; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D004798:Enzymes / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007194:India; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history*; D010206:Papain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012431:Rutin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D004798:Enzymes; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D012431:Rutin; C009685:chymotrypsin, papain, trypsin drug combination; C023295:Wobenzym; D006867:Hydrolases; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin; D010206:Papain