Re: Noscapine ?

[Guest guest]

>

> Does anyone have experience with Noscapine or know anyone who

> does? Meaning taking it or having taken it? Noscapine is

> something Israel Barken is researching, as an anti-tumor agent.

I don't really know anything about this, which surely qualifies

me to have an opinion on the Internet

A search of Pubmed reveal 22 articles on noscapine and cancer,

but none at all on noscapine and prostate cancer. Virtually all

of the 22 are in vitro (i.e., test tube) studies, with a couple

in mice. I didn't see any that looked like they were studies in

humans.

A search of clinicaltrials.gov found 1 combined Phase I/II

clinical trial of noscapine for non-Hodgkins lymphoma or Chronic

Lymphocytic Leukemia that have not responded to Chemotherapy.

The study status is noted as " Terminated (No funding). " The

study was underway in Los Angeles, but no information is included

as to who was funding it and why funds were withdrawn. It might

mean that no effect was observed, or toxic effects were observed,

or could even mean that the people ran out of money - though you

wouldn't expect someone to start a trial if they didn't have

enough money to finish it - or at least some commitment for funds

if there were promising early results.

The last time I looked, Dr. Barken was selling noscapine on a

website at www.noscapine.org - which might indicate a conflict of

interest, but then again it might not.

The bottom line, as far as I can tell, is that there are in vitro

and mouse studies that seem to show some positive effects of

noscapine on various cancers, including one mouse study of

prostate cancer. However there is no data whatsoever for humans.

So no one really knows if it will help, or even has any evidence

one way or the other.

Personally, I would be more inclined towards pomegranate juice or

extract, vitamin C, green tea, tomato juice, and maybe other

foods and supplements that have been mentioned (for which there

is also no good quality data), but which have more evidence of

long term safety. I don't know that the evidence for noscapine

is any better than for any of them, or if it is even as good.

Alan Meyer

ameyer2@...

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[Guest guest]

I have tried noscapene for several months. While doing WW I thought I might give it a try as I was willing to foot the cost , which is expensive. I did not expect much but figured why not. I started with 200 mg a day. There were no side effects so then I went to 400, then 800, 1200 and finally 2000. This was over the course of months. It was my personal experiment, which before I began, I set a predetermined dollar amount on. During the course of these months (March- Sept 2007) my PSA fluctuated as it always did anyway, both up and down. Overall I noticed no real meaningful change in either direction so I stopped taking it last Sept. As a matter of clarification...Dr Barken was not selling it. The PCREF website listed a few sources for those who wanted to try it. To get it one has to contact the suppliers themselves. I used a place in Israel as they had the

capsules with the biggest dose. The capsules were 200mg ( I think there were 150 -200 caps per bottle with each bottle costing about $325.00 U.S.) If you posted your PSA on a Medical Smart Chart , at PCREF, you could get a 10% discount. The chart enabled a graph that showed effects, if any. I do not regret trying it and I noticed no downside. It is expensive and I was willing to foot the cost without complaint. Maybe it will help someone, who knows? It just did not do much for me. Jeffmaack1wichita wrote: Dr. Israel Barken is certainly a legitament urologic oncologist. He is considered one of the best among the rest of physicians regarding prostate cancer research and treatment. Visit his Prostate Cancer Research and Education Foundation (PC-REF) at www.pcref.org. Now, to answer your question regarding Noscapine.....and you can find much more by going to the internet and simply entering the word Noscapine in the search box........ Dr. Israel Barken made a presentation at the 17th International Prostate Cancer Update conference in Vail, Colorado on Feb. 15th, 2007. He presented the result of research demonstrating the effect of Noscapine on prostate cancer cells implanted in mice. The results showed significant inhibition of the growth of the primary tumor and significantly less metastatic disease in the treated animal group. Please click here

for the press release. For information about Noscapine please click here. Noscapine is being tested at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta as a tubulin-binding anticancer agent. It's been tested at Emory for hormone-refractory breast cancer: "apoptosis and regression of human tumors implanted in mice." In 2005, Athersys. Inc in Ohio announced "Identification of novel and improved antimitotic agents derived from noscapine." So drug companies will be interested in it if they can turn it into a potent (and alas, probably toxic) chemo drug. As a side effect, noscapine lowers anxiety (again, in mice).. http://www.psa-rising.com/wiredbird/noscapene07.html (Chuck) Maack Prostate Cancer Advocate Wichita, Kansas Chapter, Us TOO Bio: http://www.ustoowichita.org/leaders.cfm?content=bio & id=1 Email: maack1@... Patient Advisory Council, PCREF > > Does anyone have experience with Noscapine or know anyone who does? > Meaning taking it or having taken it? Noscapine is something Israel > Barken is researching, as an anti-tumor agent. > > Anyone have experience with Israel Barken? I listened to his show last > night and a couple of archived shows today. It seems he's knowledgable > with a lot of experience. There also seems to be a bit of "quack > factor". Maybe because he's out

"there". Any thoughts anyone? > > I happen to like people who are out "there" as long as they're still in > orbit. >

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[Guest guest]

I wrote to him when he was posting the PCa groups. I wrote to see if

he might be of assistance on a VA request for connection to my

military service years.

Below is part of a response from them. Be advised, there is no such

thing as " free services " from them such as they advertise.

A " required " donation is not a donation. It is a charge for services

rendered.

I feel mislead. I am surprised he is allowed to advertize on this

group as well as others.

Mick -- Abilene, TX

FREE SERVICES OF PC-REF:

PC-REF has many free services for men with prostate cancer and their

families. You can see them on our website, www.pcref.org.

Please send me your full name, mailing address, phone. I have

forwarded your request to Dr. Barken. He will see if there is

anything relevant he can find that will help you. If there is, we

will ask you for a donation to PC-REF for the time spent in

researching your request. Dr. Barken has successfully written

letters to the VA in other cases that were related to coverage of

benefits for veterans.

>

> Does anyone have experience with Noscapine or know anyone who does?

> Meaning taking it or having taken it? Noscapine is something Israel

> Barken is researching, as an anti-tumor agent.

>

> Anyone have experience with Israel Barken? I listened to his show

last

> night and a couple of archived shows today. It seems he's

knowledgable

> with a lot of experience. There also seems to be a bit of " quack

> factor " . Maybe because he's out " there " . Any thoughts anyone?

>

> I happen to like people who are out " there " as long as they're still

in

> orbit.

>