Vitality Unleashed: The Functional Medicine Podcast

Cancer Stem Cells: The Queens of the Tumor Colony

• Dr. Kumar from LifeWellMD.com • Season 1 • Episode 142

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Have you ever wondered if we've been approaching cancer from the wrong angle all along? The newest scientific research reveals a groundbreaking perspective that's transforming our understanding of cancer's true origins – not just in our genes, but in the tiny power plants within our cells called mitochondria.

This deep dive explores the revolutionary Mitochondrial Stem Cell Connection (MSCC) theory, which suggests cancer begins with dysfunction in our cellular energy production systems, particularly within stem cells. We uncover how this impairment leads to the formation of cancer stem cells – the dangerous "queen bees" comprising just 2% of tumors but driving malignancy, treatment resistance, and recurrence.

You'll discover why traditional cancer treatments often fall short: they target rapidly dividing bulk cancer cells while missing the dormant cancer stem cells that can rebuild entire tumors. This explains why many breakthrough therapies extend survival by only months rather than years.

Most fascinating is the exploration of cancer's metabolic adaptations. When mitochondria falter, cancer cells switch to alternative energy sources – fermenting glucose and glutamine – creating an acidic, low-oxygen microenvironment that protects them while promoting spread. This metabolic weakness presents a powerful therapeutic opportunity.

The conversation details a comprehensive strategy targeting cancer at its metabolic roots: high-dose intravenous vitamin C that selectively kills cancer cells, therapeutic vitamin D levels that improve cellular respiration, repurposed medications like ivermectin that demonstrate remarkable anti-cancer properties, and ketogenic diets that effectively starve cancer cells of their preferred fuels while supporting healthy cells.

This isn't about choosing between conventional and alternative approaches – it's about integrating evidence-based therapies that address cancer's fundamental vulnerabilities. For anyone facing a cancer diagnosis or supporting a loved one through treatment, this episode offers empowering insights that could transform your approach to healing.

Ready to explore how these breakthrough strategies might support your cancer journey? Contact LifeWellMD at 561-210-9999 to begin your personalized wellness plan today.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

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If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

Speaker 1:

Hey there and welcome to the Deep Dive. You know, when you're facing a significant health challenge, especially something as complex as cancer, the sheer volume of information can just feel overwhelming. Right, you're bombarded with traditional treatments, endless studies, and often it leaves you feeling kind of like a passenger in your own journey. But what if we told you there are groundbreaking evidence-based insights emerging, things from the scientific community that offer a completely different lens, a new way to look at cancer and well powerful new ways to think about your care? This deep dive is really custom-tailored for you if you're seeking to understand more, maybe feel more empowered and explore actionable strategies that you know go beyond the mainstream. Today we're going to unpack some truly fascinating research. It's on something called the mitochondrial stem cell connection in cancer treatment. It's a concept that's really shifting paradigms and opening up whole new avenues for health and well-being.

Speaker 1:

We're exploring this cutting-edge information as part of Dr Kumar's team over at LifeWellMDcom. They're an innovative Florida clinic really dedicated to health, wellness and longevity. Our mission today is simple to inform, educate and hopefully inspire you with insights that could lead to better outcomes, maybe a better quality of life, and look if what you hear today resonates, if you feel ready to explore these possibilities, we absolutely invite you to call LifeWellMDcom. The number is 561-210-9999. Give them a call to begin your wellness journey today. Okay, let's dive into this core idea, the mitochondrial stem cell connection, or NSCC for short. For a long time, the dominant theory, the one most people hear, is that cancer primarily starts with just random genetic mutations, sort of like a bad roll of the dice in our DNA. But this new research presents a really compelling alternative perspective. It suggests the story might be well much deeper than just genes.

Speaker 2:

It really does. And what's truly fascinating here is that the MSCC theory suggests cancer might originate not just from those genetic accidents, but from a really fundamental issue, an issue within our cells powerhouses, you know the mitochondria.

Speaker 1:

The energy factory.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. Specifically, it points to a chronic insufficiency, a problem with their main energy production system. We call it oxidative phosphorylation, or oxfos for short, and this issue seems to start within our stem cells. This impairment, this malfunction, can lead to the formation of what are known as cancer stem cells, or CSCs, and these cells then drive the abnormal energy metabolism that really fuels malignancy.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so connecting that to the bigger picture Right.

Speaker 2:

It means that, while genetic mutations are definitely present in cancer, no one denies that this research suggests they might often be a consequence of this mitochondrial dysfunction.

Speaker 1:

Ah, so a symptom, not the root cause, necessarily.

Speaker 2:

In many cases potentially yes, rather than the primary driver. Think of it like this If the cell's engine, the mitochondrion, is failing, other parts, like the genetics, might start to break down as a result. There are even studies, quite compelling ones, where scientists took the cytoplasm from healthy cells that's the part containing normal mitochondria and put it into tumor cells with their tumor nuclei. And what happened? The cancer-like behavior, the tumorigenicity, was suppressed, even though those bad, tumor-associated genes were still present.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that really does flip the script.

Speaker 2:

It absolutely does. It really shifts our understanding of where the core problem might truly lie.

Speaker 1:

So just to make sure I'm getting this, the MSCC theory basically says cancer isn't just a genetic lottery gone wrong. It's more about our cells' internal batteries, the mitochondria acting up particularly in our stem cells. Is that the basic gist?

Speaker 2:

That's a perfect way to put it. You've got the basic gist exactly right.

Speaker 1:

Okay, and these cancer stem cells? You mentioned these CSCs. If there's such a tiny fraction of the tumor, maybe only 2% what makes them so incredibly important and what does this finding mean for how we should approach cancer treatment?

Speaker 2:

Yes, the CSCs. They are absolutely a critical piece of this whole puzzle. Despite being small in number sometimes just that 2% of the total mass they are incredibly potent. They possess this remarkable ability to self-renew, make more of themselves and also differentiate, meaning they can turn into all the other types of cancer cells.

Speaker 1:

So they're like the queen bee of the tumor.

Speaker 2:

That's a great analogy. They can endlessly generate new cancer cells and, crucially, they can recreate an entire tumor practically from scratch. They're far more tumorigenic, far more aggressive than the other bulk cancer cells. Some studies show that just a handful, maybe 100 CSCs could start a new tumor, whereas you might need over 10,000 non-CSCs to do the same and sometimes even that wouldn't work. It really is, and they're directly implicated, involved in every stage of cancer how it starts, how it grows and progresses, how it spreads metastasis and, maybe most importantly for patients, how it resists treatment. And, fundamentally, their function, their power is intimately tied to their mitochondrial health. That initial oxfuss insufficiency we talked about. It's particularly devastating for these critical cells.

Speaker 1:

Wow, okay. So if the mitochondria, the main power generators, are impaired in these super important cancer stem cells, how on earth do cancer cells find the energy they need to grow, divide and survive? It seems like they just run out of juice.

Speaker 2:

That's an excellent question and it really highlights just how adaptable, how cunning cancer cells can be. They compensate, they make up for that lack of efficient energy from oxfos by switching to what you could call backup generators. These are alternative metabolic shortcuts. Primarily, they start relying very heavily on glycolysis. That's often called the Warburg effect. It's essentially fermenting sugar for quick energy.

Speaker 1:

Fermenting sugar. Yeah, like yeast does.

Speaker 2:

Sort of yes. It's a much faster way to make ATP the cell's energy currency, though it's much less efficient than oxfas, and they also heavily rely on something called glutaminolysis, which is fermenting glutamine a common amino acid, a protein building block.

Speaker 2:

So they're not just sugar addicts, they can use other stuff too. Exactly Glucose and glutamine become their primary fuels. The key takeaway here for you, the listener, is that cancer cells become critically desperately dependent on these fermentable fuels. This dependence is so profound that, as far as we know, no tumor cells have ever been shown to grow without access to either glucose or glutamine.

Speaker 1:

That sounds like a major vulnerability.

Speaker 2:

It absolutely is. And think about the standard cancer detection methods like PET scans. They actually exploit this. They use radioactive glucose, or sometimes radioactive glutamine, to literally light up tumors on the scan. Why? Because tumors gobble up these fuels so much more than healthy tissues. It highlights just how essential these fuels are for cancer survival.

Speaker 1:

OK, so cancer isn't just a rogue cell acting alone. It's like it's creating its own little world, an ecosystem fueled by these faulty mitochondria and alternative energy sources. You mentioned earlier that this mitochondrial impairment also shapes the neighborhood around the cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment. What does that environment actually look like and why does it matter so much?

Speaker 2:

Indeed, it's not just the cells themselves, it's the whole neighborhood. The tumor microenvironment is a direct result of this mitochondrial dysfunction and this altered metabolism. It's incredibly complex and it's a self-sustaining system. Some key features include, for instance, a highly acidic environment outside the cancer cells.

Speaker 1:

Acidic how.

Speaker 2:

Well, because of all that fermentation, the glycolysis and gluminolysis, they pump out a lot of lactic acid and succinic acid. This makes the extracellular space quite acidic, maybe pH 6.2 to 6.8. But here's the kicker Inside the cancer cells it actually stays alkaline around pH 7.2 to 7.7. And that difference helps them thrive.

Speaker 1:

That's counterintuitive.

Speaker 2:

It is. You also find hypoxia, a state of low oxygen. This low oxygen condition actually promotes cancer stemness. It encourages the building of new blood vessels to feed the tumor that's angiogenesis and it makes the cancer more resistant to treatments like radiation.

Speaker 1:

So the low oxygen actually helps the cancer in some ways.

Speaker 2:

Paradoxically? Yes, in many ways it does. And there are other factors too Increased physical pressure within the tumor, often a slightly higher temperature, maybe one degree Celsius warmer than surrounding healthy tissue. You also see changes in the supportive connective tissue, the stroma, and even shifts in the cell's bioelectricity and the way water behaves inside the cytoplasm. All these elements are crucial. They help cancer cells survive, thrive and metastasize. It confirms that this microenvironment isn't just a passive backdrop, it's an active participant, almost like a hostile safe haven the cancer builds for itself.

Speaker 1:

This understanding definitely broadens the view. It paints a much more complex picture. We're not just fighting cells, we're fighting this entire metabolic fortress they've constructed. So if this mitochondrial stem cell connection, this MSCC, is so fundamental, why have mainstream treatments often seemed to fall short? Why are we still seeing only limited improvements in overall survival rates for many cancers? It almost feels like we've been, I don't know, barking up the wrong tree sometimes.

Speaker 2:

That's a really critical point and connecting it back to the MSCC framework helps explain a lot. You see, many standard cancer therapies chemotherapy, radiation were largely designed based on that older somatic mutation theory.

Speaker 1:

Targeted the genetic errors.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, primarily targeting things like DNA synthesis or just hitting any cell that divides rapidly, which includes many of the bulk cancer cells in a tumor. However, they frequently miss the mark when it comes to those cancer stem cells, the CSCs we talked about.

Speaker 1:

Why is that?

Speaker 2:

Because CSCs are often in a quiescent state. They're dormant, not actively dividing, much of the time they're sort of just hiding out. So while chemotherapy or radiation might effectively kill off the majority of the rapidly dividing bulk cancer cells, shrinking the tumor initially, which looks like success Right, it looks like success on a scan. But the resilient CSCs can remain behind relatively untouched. They can then wake up later, proliferate and even develop further resistance to the treatments used before, and the statistics frankly bear this out. Numerous analyses have shown that many new targeted therapies approved over the past 15, even 30 years have resulted in an average overall survival improvement of only, say, 2.4 to 3.4 months. That's a few months. That's sobering. Don't do anything to restore healthy mitochondrial function, the oxfas. In fact, some can even damage mitochondria further. This can contribute to relapses where the tumor comes back and often when it does, it's more aggressive and more resistant than before.

Speaker 1:

And you mentioned, they can hide.

Speaker 2:

Yes, that's another part of the problem. Because the number of remaining CSCs after treatment can be very low. They can easily fall below the detection threshold of even advanced imaging like PT scans. This gives a false impression of remission, a false sense of security, when actually the seeds of recurrence are still there. For patients, for you, this really raises important questions about the long-term effectiveness, the sustainability of some current treatment paradigms. It highlights why a truly different approach, one targeting the root metabolic issues and the CSCs, is so desperately needed.

Speaker 1:

But, ok, there is inspiring news here Right. Based on this deeper understanding of the MSCC, researchers and, importantly, clinics like LifeWellMDcom are exploring new strategies. You mentioned a hybrid orthomolecular protocol. That sounds technical, but it's basically a multi-pronged approach designed to enhance the healthy mitochondrial function, starve the cancer cells of those fuels they love and directly target these elusive CSCs and their ability to spread. What does this kind of protocol actually look like? This sounds like a complete strategic shift in how we approach the fight.

Speaker 2:

It truly is a strategic shift. And yes, hybrid orthomolecular protocol might sound complex, but the concept is straightforward it combines specific orthomolecules which are essentially naturally occurring substances like vitamins and minerals, used in specific, often high therapeutic doses, along with repurposed drugs, existing medications found to have anti-cancer effects and other supportive therapies like dietary changes and oxygen therapy. The goal is to create additive and synergistic effects. It's about leveraging the body's own natural systems while adding targeted interventions to create an internal environment where cancer cells really struggle and healthy cells can thrive.

Speaker 1:

Okay, break that down for us. What are some key components?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely so. First, we often focus on orthomolecules. These are compounds that can both support healthy cells and selectively attack cancer cells. A prime example is intravenous vitamin C. Now, this is not the same as taking a vitamin C pill every day. Not at all.

Speaker 1:

Right Much higher doses delivered differently.

Speaker 2:

Exactly High pharmacological doses given intravenously directly into the bloodstream achieve blood levels vastly higher than possible with oral intake, and these high levels have been shown to selectively kill cancer cells, often by generating hydrogen peroxide within the tumor microenvironment, which is toxic to cancer cells but generally not harmful to normal cells. Some studies, both in lab dishes and in animals, have shown IV vitamin C to be more effective than certain chemotherapy drugs at inducing apoptosis, that's, programmed cell death, in colon cancer cells. It's also been shown to significantly reduce tumor weight and metastases in models of pancreatic cancer and, crucially, it seems to directly target CSCs and inhibit their use of glutamine.

Speaker 1:

So it hits their fuel supply too.

Speaker 2:

It does, and going way back, pioneers like Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron observed remarkably improved survival times in terminal cancer patients who received intravenous ascorbate vitamin C. It's got a long history, albeit outside the mainstream sometimes.

Speaker 1:

Okay, what else in the orthomolecular toolbox?

Speaker 2:

Another key player is oral vitamin D. Vitamin D is actually a potent hormone and it directly targets mitochondria. It helps improve metabolism, regulate cellular respiration and, importantly, it inhibits both glycolysis and glutaminolysis, those fermentation pathways cancer loves.

Speaker 1:

So it dampens down their backup energy systems.

Speaker 2:

Precisely, and population studies have linked consistent, adequate vitamin D supplementation to a reduction in total cancer mortality. We aim for optimal blood levels, often around 80 NGML, which usually requires specific adjusted dosages, sometimes starting high like 50,000 IUs per day. If levels are very low, then maintaining with something like 2,000 IU day, tailored to the individual. It's far beyond the standard recommendation. There was even a compelling case report of an elderly patient with advanced pancreatic cancer who lived much longer than expected, disease-free for nine months, using high-dose vitamin D3 as a primary intervention.

Speaker 1:

Wow, and you mentioned zinc.

Speaker 2:

Yes, zinc it's often overlooked, but critical for mitochondrial health. Zinc helps protect mitochondria from damage. It boosts healthy oxfas and studies show it can suppress those cancer's stem cell-like properties in various cancers. It can also enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy. Importantly, zinc seems to show toxicity towards cancer cells without significant side effects on healthy cells, and zinc deficiency itself is linked to increased malignancy risk.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so we're using these natural compounds, these orthomolecules, in targeted ways to support healthy function and attack cancer's weak points.

Speaker 2:

That makes a lot of sense. What's the next part of this multi-pronged attack Building on that foundation? The next category involves repurposed or off-label drugs. These are existing medications, often approved for other conditions like parasitic infections or diabetes, that have well-established safety records but are now being studied and used for their anti-cancer properties, based on this metabolic understanding.

Speaker 1:

So using old drugs for new tricks, essentially, that's a good way to think about it.

Speaker 2:

A prominent example is ivermectin. Yes, the anti-parasitic drug. It has demonstrated really significant anti-cancer properties in numerous studies. It seems to induce apoptosis, that programmed cell death, by directly influencing mitochondrial function. It also inhibits glycolysis and it specifically targets those resilient CSCs and metastasis. Some animal studies showed it could be more effective than standard chemotherapy in reducing tumor weight in pancreatic cancer models. And, importantly, it has a very good safety profile, shown to be safe even at doses five times the standard antiparasitic dose for extended periods like 180 days.

Speaker 1:

Interesting what other repurposed drugs are used.

Speaker 2:

Another group are the benzimidazoles like mabendazole or fenbendazole. Mabendazole is actually FDA approved for treating worms in humans, so we know a lot about its safety. These drugs work by disrupting microtubule formation in cells, similar to some chemo drugs, but they also appear to block glucose uptake and interfere with those crucial metabolic pathways. They induce apoptosis and specifically target CSCs in chemo-resistant cells. In some lab studies, mabenzazole was found to be more potent against gastric cancer cells than several well-known chemotherapy drugs.

Speaker 1:

Really More potent.

Speaker 2:

In those specific studies? Yes, and there are compelling case reports out there patients with metastatic colon cancer, for example, or advanced adrenocortical carcinoma who achieved near-complete remission or stable disease for long periods using Mabendazole, often after standard treatments had stopped working. And related to this there's a compound called DON6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norlicene. It's a very potent glutamine antagonist. It blocks cancer's ability to use glutamine.

Speaker 1:

Ah, hitting that other key fuel source.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and it seems to be effective at relatively low non-toxic doses For many metastatic cancers which are often highly dependent on glutamine. A combination approach how we move truly make a difference at this fundamental cellular level Absolutely, they are arguably foundational. Our daily choices are immensely powerful. Which brings us to the third category dietary interventions. These are critical for shifting the body's overall metabolic environment.

Speaker 1:

OK, I think I know where this might be going. Keto Fasting.

Speaker 2:

You guessed it Fasting and ketogenic metabolic therapy, KMT, are key tools here. Intermittent fasting, or sometimes longer medically supervised water fasting say three, seven days for advanced cancers, has profound effects. It enhances healthy mitochondrial activity, boosts oxfos efficiency and, critically, it inhibits both glycolysis and glutaminolysis.

Speaker 1:

So it directly counters what the cancer cells want to do.

Speaker 2:

Precisely. It effectively helps starve cancer cells of their preferred fuels while simultaneously training normal stem cells for regeneration and resilience. Similarly, a well-formulated ketogenic diet, which is very low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and high in healthy fats, shifts the body's primary fuel source from glucose to ketones. Cancer cells, particularly CSCs, generally struggle to use ketones. Cancer cells, particularly CSEs, generally struggle to use ketones efficiently for energy, while our healthy cells, including brain cells, adapt beautifully. This diet has been shown to inhibit cancer stem cell growth and help restore apoptosis pathways.

Speaker 1:

And you can combine these diet and drugs.

Speaker 2:

Yes, combining a ketogenic diet with targeted drugs like Dawn or Mabendazole has shown enhanced therapeutic benefits in preclinical studies and potentially even reduced drug toxicity because you might be able to use lower doses. There's that remarkable published case study of a patient with grade 4V glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer, who lived over six years. They had surgery but then used a strict ketogenic diet instead of standard chemoradiotherapy. That's highly unusual survival for that diagnosis.

Speaker 1:

That is incredible. How do you track if it's working?

Speaker 2:

We monitor it carefully, often using something called the glucose ketone index, GKI. It's a simple ratio calculated from blood glucose and ketone measurements. We aim for a specific GKI range that indicates therapeutic ketosis, ensuring the diet is having the desired metabolic effect.

Speaker 1:

Makes sense. You need to know you're hitting the target.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. And finally we round out the protocol with additional therapeutics to optimize the whole picture. Physical activity is hugely important. Regular, moderate activity may be aiming for three sessions a week. 45 to 75 minutes each does wonders for mitochondria. It increases healthy mitochondrial volume and respiration decreases. Reliance on glycolysis, supports tissue regeneration and studies show it can directly inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.

Speaker 1:

Plus the general health benefits.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Given that obesity and type 2 diabetes are known risk factors for many cancers, exercise plays a powerful protective and therapeutic role. And the last piece I'll mention is hyperbaric oxygen therapy HBOT. Remember we talked about the tumor microenvironment being hypoxic, low in oxygen, Right and how that levels of oxygen than normal. This increased oxygenation boosts healthy oxfas and has demonstrated potent antitumor activity on its own, but especially when combined with ketogenic metabolic therapy, it helps reverse that hypoxic environment, potentially targeting CSCs and metastases that rely on it.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that is a comprehensive strategy.

Speaker 2:

It really aims to be. It's about attacking the cancer from multiple angles targeting its metabolic vulnerabilities, weakening the CSCs, improving the microenvironment and supporting the health of normal cells, all at the same time.

Speaker 1:

So let's bring this all together. What does this all mean for you, the listener? This hybrid protocol, this whole approach? It isn't about finding just one single magic bullet. It's about a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy, one designed to address cancer at its fundamental metabolic roots. It's about understanding the core weaknesses of cancer cells, their reliance on fermentation, their vulnerable mitochondria, the crucial role of CSCs, and then strategically creating an internal environment where those cancer cells struggle to survive while your healthy cells are supported and can thrive. It's about giving your body the best possible chance to heal and recover.

Speaker 1:

We've covered a tremendous amount today, haven't we? Uncovering this fresh perspective on where cancer might actually start and looking at a powerful, multifaceted protocol designed to really support your body's fight, understanding this mitochondrial stem cell connection and learning about these innovative, often integrative therapies. It empowers you. It allows you to engage much more deeply, more actively, with your own health journey. We really encourage you to take these evidence-based insights maybe even this recording to your oncology team. Ask them questions. Ask about the latest research on metabolic therapies. Ask about the profound role of targeted nutrition, like the ketogenic diet. Ask about integrative approaches like high-dose IV vitamin C or repurposed drugs.

Speaker 1:

Perhaps this isn't about choosing one path over another. Necessarily, it's about collaboration. It's about exploring every available evidence-based avenue that could lead to better outcomes and an enhanced quality. Choosing one path over another necessarily, it's about collaboration. It's about exploring every available evidence-based avenue that could lead to better outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for you.

Speaker 1:

And if you're feeling ready to explore how a holistic, evidence-based approach to health, wellness and longevity could specifically support your cancer journey, dr Kumar and the dedicated team at LifeWellMDcom are truly here to guide you. Their innovative Florida clinic specializes in integrating these kinds of cutting-edge developments into personalized care plans. Please give them a call at 561-210-9999 today. You can talk to them, ask questions and begin your wellness journey. That number, again, is 561-210-9999. And as you go about your day, maybe mull this over, here's a provocative thought for you Knowing now that cancer seems to have this metabolic Achilles heel, this fundamental vulnerability, what new questions will you ask? What new conversations will you start, empowered with this deeper understanding of your body's intricate cellular battle? Thank you for diving deep with us today.