2001

4 September, 2001

CONTACT:
Samantha Williams
Public Relations Manager
(330) 375-7930


(Akron, Ohio) – Researchers at Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio are reporting that moderate doses of the vitamins C and K3 are eliminating many types of cancer cells including prostate, bladder, renal and ovarian.

The study, spearheaded by James M. Jamison, Ph.D. and Jack L. Summers, M.D, Ph.D, both of Summa Health System, in collaboration with Jacques Gilloteaux, DSc, Ph.D and Heryk Taper, M.D., Ph.D. of Brussels, Belgium was presented by the team at the Experimental Biology meeting in Orlando, Fla. in April. In addition, the study was featured in the June 16, 2001 edition of Science News.

“What is so significant about our study is that through out research of cancer cells, we have discovered a new form of cell death, never before reported,” said Summers.

The research, which is funded by Summa Health System is conducted in Summit County.

“We found early on that the combination of vitamins C and K3 seek out tumor cells and appear to leave normal cells unaffected,” Summers explained. “The dying cells undergo a new flow of self-destruction in which the cell literally cuts itself into small pieces. This discovery was the first of its kind and to this point, cells were considered to die only by apoptosis (old age) or necrosis (toxic cell death or injury.) So, the Summa team upon our finding of this new form of cell death, termed our discovery, autoschizis.”

The Summa researchers have shown that autoschizis is another type of cell death and has been validated by other researchers around the world. The Summa team has been working collaboratively with Gilloteaux and Taper for six years conducting extensive experimentation and now Summers and Jamison are hoping to launch human trials within the next year. The launch of human trials is dependent upon funding.

According to Summers, the clinical trials are estimated to cost at least $300,000. Summa Gynecology Oncologist, Vivian Von Grunigan, M.D. will lead the clinical trials and the investigation into the effect of vitamin C and K3 compounds on ovarian cancer Jamison contends in Science News that, “while tumors in mice not getting the vitamins C and K3 invariably spread to the lung and lymph nodes, most cancer in the treated animals stayed put. And when it did (spread), those tumors were much smaller.”

Jamison added that, though it’s possible that long-term prophylactic treatment with vitamins C and K3 could prevent cancer, he says the combo’s greatest promise lies as a booster for conventional therapies. According to Science News, Jamison predicts the study will enable physicians to treat cancer by using less radiation or chemotherapy – and introducing fewer side effects – than today’s procedures do.

Since the article in Science News, Jamison has received numerous calls from national and international researchers, physicians and patients interested in learning more about the study that is being conducted in Akron, Ohio.

Summa Health System is an integrated health care system, including Akron City and St. Thomas hospitals and SummaCare, which is committed to the full continuum of health care services. Led by President and CEO, Thomas J. Strauss, Summa is the only Akron health organization to be accredited with commendation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for cancer, ear, nose and throat, geriatrics, gynecology, heart, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and respiratory disorders. In addition to being Akron's first level I trauma center, Summa is also a leader in maternity services providing level III perinatal care, the highest level of care available.

Summa is a member of The Cleveland Clinic Health System and, along with 15 other leading health care organizations, is a member of the Cleveland Health Network, the largest and most comprehensive provider network based in Northeast Ohio.