Cancer
The Second Leading Cause of Death, Globally
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second-leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Worldwide, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020. Despite great progress in new pharmaceutical treatments for cancer diseases, all these treatments are associated with significant adverse effects, and the global death rate remains high and steady.
Acidosis Induced by Cancer
Solid cancer tumor growth and invasion are associated with low levels of oxygen (i.e., hypoxia), leading to a cascading series of events that cause a shift in cancer cell metabolism to glycolysis, and consequently inducing acidosis in the tumor’s microenvironment. The acidosis promotes the creation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Angiogenesis is accompanied by the secretion of proteolytic enzymes, such as cathepsins, that promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Additionally, the acidosis promotes immune, drug, and radiation resistance of the tumor.
ACC for Treating Cancer
Restoring a malignant tissue’s normal pH results in inhibiting cancer cells’ proliferation and metastasis. It allows the immune system to counterattack the cancer and improve chemotherapy and radiotherapy anti-cancerous efficacy. ACC can modulate physiological acidic conditions, serving as a solid buffer agent. In a series of preclinical studies, ACC has already demonstrated excellent efficacy in reducing tumor growth rates, converting glycolytic metabolism back to normal aerobic metabolism, enhancing the anti-cancer immune system, and reversing multiple gene expressions associated with cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth (Ongoing Clinical Trial). Preliminary attempts for ACC treatment of late-stage 4 cancer patients, who had ceased to respond to conventional therapies and had an estimated life expectancy prognosis of 2 to 3 months, have been performed. Several recovery cases have been recorded, ranging from total remission to extending life from months to years, reducing pains and adverse effects, and returning to normal life activities. More studies are currently planned.