AEGiS-GMHC: Common Alternative Therapies: Shark Cartilage

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Common Alternative Therapies: Shark Cartilage

Gay Men's Health Crisis: Treatment Issues, Volume 7 no. 11/12 - Winter, 1993/94
Bree Scott-Hartland

Shark cartilage is rich in an angiogenesis inhibiting protein called Cartilage- derived Inhibitor. Angiogenesis is the process whereby new blood vessels are formed to feed cancer, particularly solid tumors, such as Kaposi's sarcoma.[1, 2]

In June 1992, a small community-based study of shark cartilage as a monotherapy treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in PWAs was begun by SEARCH Alliance in Los Angeles. Preliminary anecdotal results reported by Dr. Fleischman of the group were disappointing. Of thirteen patients, only six were evaluable at study's end. A dose of 60 grams of shark cartilage was administered by retention enema two to four times a day. This means of administering the compound proved to be impractical so patients took the same dose orally. Patients reported an "extremely foul taste" and nausea associated with therapy. There was no discernible regression of KS lesions after two to three months of follow-up.

1. Lee, A. and Langer, R. Science 221:1185 7.

2. Oikawa T, et al. Cancer Letter. 1990; 51:181 6.

3. Fleischman, E. SEARCHLIGHT March/April, 1993:2.

Copyright (c) 1993 - Gay Men's Health Crisis. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged.
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Copyright © 1993 - Treatment Issues. Reproduced with permission. Treatment Issues is published twelve times yearly by GMHC, Inc. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged. Subscription lists are kept confidential. GMHC Treatment Issues, The Tisch Building, 119 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011 fredg@gmhc.org http://www.gmhc.org

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