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Case Reports
. 2018 Sep;17(3):986-993.
doi: 10.1177/1534735417747984. Epub 2017 Dec 19.

The Long-Term Survival of a Patient With Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma Following an Integrative Treatment Approach Including the Intravenous α-Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol

Burton M Berkson  1   2 , Francisco Calvo Riera  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

The Long-Term Survival of a Patient With Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma Following an Integrative Treatment Approach Including the Intravenous α-Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol

Burton M Berkson et al. Integr Cancer Ther. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

In this case report, we describe the treatment of a 64-year-old male patient diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in June of 2008. In spite of a left nephrectomy and the standard oncological protocols, the patient developed a solitary left lung metastasis that continued to grow. He was informed that given his diagnosis and poor response to conventional therapy, any further treatment would, at best, be palliative. The patient arrived at the Integrative Medical Center of New Mexico in August of 2010. He was in very poor health, weak, and cachectic. An integrative program-developed by one of the authors using intravenous (IV) α-lipoic acid, IV vitamin C, low-dose naltrexone, and hydroxycitrate, and a healthy life style program-was initiated. From August 2010 to August 2015, the patient's RCC with left lung metastasis was followed closely using computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. His most recent positron emission tomography scan demonstrated no residual increased glucose uptake in his left lung. After only a few treatments of IV α-lipoic acid and IV vitamin C, his symptoms began to improve, and the patient regained his baseline weight. His energy and outlook improved, and he returned to work. The patient had stable disease with disappearance of the signs and symptoms of stage IV RCC, a full 9 years following diagnosis, with a gentle integrative program, which is essentially free of side effects. As of November 2017 the patient feels well and is working at his full-time job.

Keywords: hydroxycitrate; integrative medicine; low-dose naltrexone; metabolic control of cancer; metastases to lung; stage IV renal cell carcinoma; vitamin C; α-lipoic acid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
June 2008, CT scan showing a large hyperdense mass (arrow) occupying the mid to lower pole of the left kidney.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
June 2008, CT scan showing a 1-cm noncalcified nodule within the upper lobe of the left lung (see arrow).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
August 2010, a PET/CT scan showed a large pleural based mass in his left upper lung (see arrow).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
January 2011, a repeat CT scan was performed, and again the mass in the left lung was demonstrated, with no apparent change in size.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
A repeat PET/CT scan in March 2012 showed complete resolution of the upper lung metastasis.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
PET/CT scan, September 2013.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
PET/CT scan, January 2014.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
PET/CT scan, August 2014.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
June 2015, CT scan, showing absence of the left pulmonary metastatic mass.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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