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Herbal Therapy for Brain Cancer
Untitled Document
Name of the Trial
Phase II Randomized Study of Adjuvant Boswellia serrata and Standard Treatment
Versus Standard Treatment Alone in Patients With Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent
High-Grade Gliomas (CASE-CCF-7348). See the protocol
summary.
Principal Investigator
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Dr.Glen Stevens
Principal Investigator |
Dr. Glen Stevens, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Why This Trial Is Important
High-grade gliomas are among the most common and aggressive forms of adult
brain cancer. Swelling of the brain (brain edema) is an often debilitating symptom
of glioma and may continue to affect patients even if the tumor is surgically
removed.
Resin from the Boswellia serrata tree (frankincense) has been shown
in animal and human studies to reduce inflammation, which is a primary cause
of brain edema. Additionally, laboratory studies suggest that B. serrata
resin may also cause human brain cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death
(apoptosis).
In this trial, patients will be randomly assigned to take an herbal preparation
of B. serrata orally four times a day in conjunction with standard treatment
for six months or to take standard treatment alone for six months. All patients
are advised to eat low-fat healthy diet. Diets rich in red meat contain a substance
called arachidonic acid, and chemicals in fat can be converted to arachidonic
acid. Arachidonic acid is converted in the brain to signaling molecules called
eicosanoids that may promote inflammation and tumor growth. Doctors want to
see if B. serrata can help reduce brain edema, tumor growth, and levels
of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme that helps convert arachidonic acid to eicosanoids,
in these patients when combined with standard treatment.
"Some small studies have suggested that frankincense extract may help
limit brain edema and even have an anti-tumor effect," said Dr. Stevens.
"We hope that use of this herbal preparation in conjunction with a healthy
diet will help improve patient outcomes and act in a complementary fashion with
standard treatments for high-grade gliomas."
Who Can Join This Trial
Researchers will enroll 70 patients aged 18 and over with newly diagnosed or
recurrent high-grade glioma who have undergone surgery to remove their cancer.
See the list
of eligibility criteria.
Study Sites and Contact Information
This trial is being conducted at the Cleveland
Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. For more information, call the Taussig Cancer
Center toll free at 1-800-862-7798.
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