Cancer Advisor

Abstract Background: Stage 4 prostate cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 37% with standard of care (SOC, e.g., androgen deprivation therapy [ADT], chemotherapy, Lu-177-PSMA-617). An optimized intervention combining repurposed drugs, supplements, diet/lifestyle, hyperthermia, and SOC components may improve outcomes. Methods : We simulated a double-blind RCT with 1,000 patients (500 per arm) with non-BRCA-mutated stage 4 prostate cancer (70% mHSPC, 30% mCRPC), comparing an integrative multimodal intervention arm (ivermectin 1.0–1.5 mg/kg/day (cycled 3 weeks on/1 off), mebendazole 500–1,500 mg/day (titrated), metformin 1,700 mg/day, vitamin C 1 g/kg IV 3 times/week, vitamin D 5,000 IU/day, curcumin 1,000 mg/day, low-glycemic Mediterranean diet, exercise, MBSR, hyperthermia [modulated electro-hyperthermia at 42°C for 60 minutes, 2–3 times weekly], plus ADT/Lu-177-PSMA-617) to a placebo arm with SOC. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included progression-fre...

Executive Summary For over 70 years, the global standard for cancer prognosis has been the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system , which classifies tumors based on: T – Tumor size and local invasion N – Lymph node involvement M – Distant metastasis TNM staging remains foundational in oncology. It guides treatment selection, clinical trial design, and survival prediction. Yet clinicians and patients alike encounter a persistent paradox: Two patients. Same cancer. Same stage. Same treatment. Radically different outcomes. A growing body of research suggests that host metabolic status — particularly insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia — may independently influence cancer progression, recurrence, and survival. This raises a provocative but clinically relevant question: Could metabolic markers such as insulin resistance provide prognostic insight that complements — or in some contexts rivals — anatomical staging? Staging explains part of the st...

Introduction: A New Era in Cancer Care Cancer treatment is evolving faster than ever. From cutting-edge immunotherapies to AI-driven diagnostics, the discoveries of 2025–2026 are reshaping how clinicians detect, monitor, and treat malignancies. These breakthroughs offer hope for longer survival, improved quality of life, and personalized therapies tailored to each patient. Credit:  Statista 1. Immunotherapy: Expanding Beyond Checkpoints Immune checkpoint inhibitors (like pembrolizumab and nivolumab) remain foundational, while CAR‑T therapies, bispecific antibodies, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expand treatment options for previously resistant solid tumors. Key Highlights: CAR‑T therapy demonstrates survival benefits in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers — a first for solid tumors. Bispecific and dual checkpoint agents provide deeper, more durable responses in early trials. Note: These therapies carry potential risks, including cytokine release syn...

The metabolic processes that help your body use food for energy and nourishment are extremely complex. The hormone insulin is a key player. When you eat, sugars from the food enter your bloodstream, which triggers your pancreas to release insulin. That insulin helps the sugar get into your cells to be used for energy. The insulin then ushers any extra sugar to your liver to be stored for later. Insulin also helps your body break down and use lipids, or fats. The amount of insulin in your body goes up and down according to how much sugar is in your bloodstream. But several factors can make your cells resistant to insulin. As a result, your blood sugar and insulin levels will be chronically elevated. Why Obesity and Insulin Resistance Reduce Immunotherapy Effectiveness Short answer: because immunotherapy depends on a metabolically fit immune system — and obesity and insulin resistance reprogram immunity in ways that blunt anti‑tumor response. This article explains how metabolic ...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest human malignancies, with a five-year survival rate stubbornly below 15% despite decades of advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and molecular oncology. Most discussions focus on late diagnosis, aggressive genetics, or therapeutic resistance. Far less attention is paid to a quieter but increasingly evident factor: insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction . Emerging evidence suggests that pancreatic cancer is not merely influenced by metabolic disease—it may be deeply intertwined with it . Insulin resistance often precedes diagnosis, worsens prognosis, and biologically fuels tumor growth. Yet it remains largely absent from staging systems, risk stratification, and treatment frameworks. A 2023 study from researchers at University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine reveals a direct link between high insulin levels, common among patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer. The study, published...