Twice I tried to talk to my oncologist about CSC’s and both times she did not utter a word back about them. She knew I was right. I had TNBC, Stage 3, Grade 3. I immediately started taking IVM and Fenben, along with several other supplements on the list. After just 2 chemo treatments, the tumor and lymph nodes began melting away. I was finally able to get an MRI last week, after 9 of 12 treatments. Results…”RESOLUTION” of breast mass and all lymph nodes. No more chemo for me. Now some minor surgery to remove the clips and further test the tissue for residual disease. I believe it will all be clean. Thank you Dr. Marik for your work!
As you know, I am now publishing patient stories. If you would like to expand on this as a patient story I would be happy to publish on my Substack….. obviously names removed. You can contact me by e-mail: pmarik@protonmail.com Paul
As a cancer researcher I can verify we love to talk about stem cells!! This has been a foundational part of translational research in oncology for the last several decades.
But what the field has learned about stem cells is considerably more complicated.
Cancer cells can shift in and out of stem-like states in response to their environment, to treatment pressure, to epigenetic changes that don’t alter the DNA sequence at all. A cell that shows no stem cell characteristics today can acquire them under stress. That fluidity is part of why targeting CSCs has been so much harder in patients than the early laboratory work suggested it would be. I’d be curious how you think about that when evaluating which compounds on your list would actually hold up against a population that can reconstitute itself.
On the repurposed drugs – most of the evidence cited here is preclinical. Cell lines and animal models are where hypotheses begin, not where they’re confirmed. Several of these compounds face a basic pharmacology problem: the concentrations that show activity in the lab are hard to achieve in a living person through oral dosing.
Any clinical data do you find the compelling? I’ve followed the metformin data for years and the trial results have been disappointing.
This is what we do as trialists…I have participated in several funded studies including exercise trials and repurposed meds. They take effort but a well-designed pilot study is not that challenging and can be funded by specific disease groups like PanCan or Friends of Cancer Research. We have a current study of nutritional/exercise rx approaches vs GLP-1 in breast cancer which is almost ready to start enrolling. We can’t rely on mouse studies to recommend things to our patients and have no way to counsel them on response rates, side effects, etc.
Very interesting overview of CSC biology. Especially the role of these pathways in persistence and recurrence.
The dynamic aspect is particularly striking—how these cells shift in response to different types of pressure. Even targeted metabolic or repurposed approaches seem to influence that behavior depending on how continuously or how strategically they’re applied.
Deeply appreciate this perspective, Dr Paul. You are highlighting the most critical gap in modern oncology: the transition from observation to action.
While the system focuses on reducing tumor bulk (the 'lawn'), these underlying pathways—Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch—often remain untouched, allowing Cancer Stem Cells to drive recurrence. Your courage to treat the patient as a 'clinical signal' rather than an 'anecdotal outlier' is exactly the paradigm shift we need. Thank you for leading the way.
Twice I tried to talk to my oncologist about CSC’s and both times she did not utter a word back about them. She knew I was right. I had TNBC, Stage 3, Grade 3. I immediately started taking IVM and Fenben, along with several other supplements on the list. After just 2 chemo treatments, the tumor and lymph nodes began melting away. I was finally able to get an MRI last week, after 9 of 12 treatments. Results…”RESOLUTION” of breast mass and all lymph nodes. No more chemo for me. Now some minor surgery to remove the clips and further test the tissue for residual disease. I believe it will all be clean. Thank you Dr. Marik for your work!
As you know, I am now publishing patient stories. If you would like to expand on this as a patient story I would be happy to publish on my Substack….. obviously names removed. You can contact me by e-mail: pmarik@protonmail.com Paul
Awesome 👏🏻 congratulations 🎉
As a cancer researcher I can verify we love to talk about stem cells!! This has been a foundational part of translational research in oncology for the last several decades.
But what the field has learned about stem cells is considerably more complicated.
Cancer cells can shift in and out of stem-like states in response to their environment, to treatment pressure, to epigenetic changes that don’t alter the DNA sequence at all. A cell that shows no stem cell characteristics today can acquire them under stress. That fluidity is part of why targeting CSCs has been so much harder in patients than the early laboratory work suggested it would be. I’d be curious how you think about that when evaluating which compounds on your list would actually hold up against a population that can reconstitute itself.
On the repurposed drugs – most of the evidence cited here is preclinical. Cell lines and animal models are where hypotheses begin, not where they’re confirmed. Several of these compounds face a basic pharmacology problem: the concentrations that show activity in the lab are hard to achieve in a living person through oral dosing.
Any clinical data do you find the compelling? I’ve followed the metformin data for years and the trial results have been disappointing.
Thanks for the comments. Clinical trials are extremely difficult to perform. And yes CSC are very fluid.. see upcoming post on cancer resistance etc.
This is what we do as trialists…I have participated in several funded studies including exercise trials and repurposed meds. They take effort but a well-designed pilot study is not that challenging and can be funded by specific disease groups like PanCan or Friends of Cancer Research. We have a current study of nutritional/exercise rx approaches vs GLP-1 in breast cancer which is almost ready to start enrolling. We can’t rely on mouse studies to recommend things to our patients and have no way to counsel them on response rates, side effects, etc.
Profound information Dr. Marik. So very grateful for the information. Many Blessings
Thanks. Appreciate your support
What about modified citrus pectin? I read that studies show a very positive benefit against CSCs. Your thoughts?
Very interesting overview of CSC biology. Especially the role of these pathways in persistence and recurrence.
The dynamic aspect is particularly striking—how these cells shift in response to different types of pressure. Even targeted metabolic or repurposed approaches seem to influence that behavior depending on how continuously or how strategically they’re applied.
Thank you again, Dr. Marik.
I will integrate this installment into an upcoming blog post, as I have been doing.
John
Deeply appreciate this perspective, Dr Paul. You are highlighting the most critical gap in modern oncology: the transition from observation to action.
While the system focuses on reducing tumor bulk (the 'lawn'), these underlying pathways—Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch—often remain untouched, allowing Cancer Stem Cells to drive recurrence. Your courage to treat the patient as a 'clinical signal' rather than an 'anecdotal outlier' is exactly the paradigm shift we need. Thank you for leading the way.
Thanks kindly for your comments. We need to work together to change the broken paradigm.
Great information, Doc, perfectly presented for the layman. Thank you.
Thanks
What a shame, it’s never taught in med school. 🤬
What about modified citrus pectin? I read that studies MCP having a very positive benefit against CSCs. Your thoughts?
Yes. MCP is a very effective anti-cancer agent. I have a post dedicated to MCP in the near future
A great article on cancer stem cell research from Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-025-02360-2
Thank you. That is a very interesting article