As noted previously (Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies ¹) samples of Cancell/Cantron/Protocel were evaluated in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI’s) in vitro 60 Human Tumor Cell Line Screen ² in 1990 and 1991. In the screen, the cell lines are grown in artificial media under conditions that do not truly mimic the in vivo situation in animals or humans. The important information used in assessing a drug’s effectiveness in the NCI in vitro screen includes drug concentrations necessary to achieve the following:

1. 50% inhibition of cell growth (GI50; the concentration needed to reduce the growth of treated cells to half that of untreated [i.e., control] cells).
2. 100% (total) growth inhibition (TGI; the concentration required to completely halt the growth of treated cells).
3. 50% cell kill or lethal concentration (LC50; the concentration that kills 50% of treated cells).

The log₁₀ values for GI50, TGI, and LC50 for the 60 cell lines are available online ³.

The variations in log₁₀ values for GI50 are 0.4–1.8 (mean = 1.15), equivalent to concentrations of 2.5–63 μg /mL (mean = 14); the variations in log₁₀ values for TGI are 1.0–2.5 (mean = 1.62), equivalent to 10–320 μg/mL (mean = 41); and the variations in log₁₀ values for LC50 are 1.6–3.9 (mean = 3.17), equivalent to 39–7,943 μg/mL (mean = 1,479).

Based on the manufacturer's recommended doses of a marketed brand of Cancell/Cantron/Protocel it has been calculated that under idealized conditions of absolutely no loss of the constituents after administration to a patient (i.e., 100% bioavailability, meaning no loss due to degradation, absorption in the body, or rapid excretion—an unlikely situation), the maximum concentration that could be achieved in the plasma of an average 154-lb male is 29 μg/mL (antilog of 1.46). Thus, under these highly idealized conditions Cancell/Cantron/Protocel may exhibit some mild inhibitory effect on the growth of some cancer cells, but it would not be expected to inhibit their growth completely or to kill them. There is little evidence that any of the constituents of Cancell/Cantron/Protocel would be available in the bloodstream of a patient.

Glossary Terms

The ability of a drug or other substance to be absorbed and used by the body. Orally bioavailable means that a drug or other substance that is taken by mouth can be absorbed and used by the body.

A liquid that has been promoted as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, including cancer. The ingredients thought to be in Cancell have been tested, and none of them has been shown to be effective in treating any form of cancer. Cancell is not available in the United States. Also called Protocel, Sheridan’s Formula, Jim’s Juice, Crocinic Acid, JS–114, JS–101, 126–F, and Cantron.

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

The amount of medicine taken, or radiation given, at one time.

In the laboratory (outside the body). The opposite of in vivo (in the body).

In the body. The opposite of in vitro (outside the body or in the laboratory).

A statistics term. The average value in a set of measurements. The mean is the sum of a set of numbers divided by how many numbers are in the set.

One millionth of a gram.

A measure of volume for a liquid. A milliliter is approximately 950 times smaller than a quart and 30 times smaller than a fluid ounce. A milliliter of liquid and a cubic centimeter (cc) of liquid are the same.

The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research. The National Cancer Institute conducts, coordinates, and funds cancer research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Access the National Cancer Institute Web site at http://www.cancer.gov. Also called NCI.

The clear, yellowish, fluid part of the blood that carries the blood cells. The proteins that form blood clots are in plasma.