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Pancreatic Proteolytic Enzymes and Cancer: New Support for an Old Theory
1Private Practice, Austin, TX, USA.
Abstract:
In 1905, the embryologist John Beard first proposed that pancreatic proteolytic enzymes had potential as a treatment for cancer. His theories were dismissed by the medical world a decade later, but various practitioners have kept the concept alive through the publication of case reports of cancer patients treated with pancreatic proteolytic enzymes. In the last 2 decades, studies of the role of proteases in physiology have made it clear that they do more than digest food. This article reviews the history of the clinical use of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes in cancer treatment, and recent research on protease activated receptors and their role in cancer.
Insights
Pancreatic enzymes were first proposed for cancer treatment in 1905. This review explores their historical use and current research on proteases in cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
Background:
- John Beard proposed pancreatic proteolytic enzymes for cancer treatment in 1905.
- His theories were initially dismissed but maintained through case reports.
- Recent research highlights proteases' broader physiological roles beyond digestion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical clinical applications of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes in cancer treatment.
- To discuss contemporary research on protease-activated receptors (PARs) and their involvement in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical case reports.
- Review of recent scientific studies on protease function and PARs in cancer.
Main Results:
- Pancreatic enzymes have a long, albeit controversial, history in cancer treatment.
- Proteases play significant roles in cancer progression and signaling pathways via PARs.
Conclusions:
- The historical use of pancreatic enzymes in cancer warrants further investigation.
- Understanding protease-activated receptors offers new avenues for cancer therapy research.
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