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Antineoplaston Therapy for Cancer: Evidence, Risks and My Multiple Myeloma Experience. What is antineoplaston therapy, and does it work for cancer? A long-term multiple myeloma survivor reviews the evidence, risks, and his own experience with Burzynski.
I underwent antineoplaston therapy after being told in 1997 that conventional treatment options for my multiple myeloma had been exhausted. By April 1999, I was in complete remission. I have remained a long-term multiple myeloma survivor.
My Experience with Antineoplasteon Therapy as a Multiple Myeloma Patient
My Experience With Antineoplaston Therapy
1994 — Multiple myeloma diagnosis
1994–1997 — Conventional treatment
September 1997 — Told conventional options were exhausted
November 1997 — Began antineoplaston therapy
1997–1999 — Treatment period
April 1999 — Complete remission
1999–present — Long-term survivorship
I believe antineoplaston therapy played an important role in my outcome. However, my experience is one patient’s experience—not clinical proof that antineoplastons cure multiple myeloma or other cancers.
Antineoplastons remain experimental. They are not FDA-approved for cancer treatment, and randomized controlled trials demonstrating that they improve cancer survival have not been published.
This article explains both sides: what happened to me and what the scientific evidence currently shows.
Decisions about alternative cancer treatments are yours to make. But if you’re considering antineoplaston therapy for cancer (MM), take time to discuss it with your oncologist (and me)…
Antineoplaston therapy is not FDA-approved, and Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski is… controversial to say the least. Further, radiation, induction therapy, and an autologous stem cell transplant at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the United States took me from a single plasmacytoma diagnosis in January of 1994 to a diagnosis of “there is nothing more we can do for you” and end-stage multiple myeloma in September of 1997.
Antineoplaston therapy took me from end-stage MM in November of 1997 to cancer-free in April of 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions About Antineoplastons
What are antineoplastons?
Antineoplaston therapy is an experimental, unproven cancer treatment created in 1976 by Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski. It uses synthetic chemical compounds (peptides and amino acid derivatives) originally found in human blood and urine. Major health organizations, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state it is not approved and lacks reliable scientific proof of effectiveness. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Does antineoplaston therapy cure cancer?
No, antineoplaston therapy does not cure cancer. There is no credible scientific evidence proving its efficacy or safety in humans. [1, 2, 3]
Does antineoplaston therapy work for multiple myeloma?
There is no reliable scientific or clinical evidence showing that antineoplaston therapy works for multiple myeloma. Major medical organizations and independent reviews consider the treatment unproven and lacking valid data.[1, 2, 3]
Who developed antineoplaston therapy?
Antineoplaston therapy was developed in the 1970s by Dr. Stanislaw R. Burzynski, a physician and researcher who later established the Burzynski Clinic and the Burzynski Research Institute in Texas. [1, 2, 3]
Are there randomized clinical trials of antineoplastons?
No Phase III Trials: Large-scale, randomized, double-blind phase III trials do not exist for antineoplastons.
Clinic-Specific Studies: Most available reports come from non-randomized, unblinded studies or trials managed by the developer’s own institute.
Independent Replication: Independent medical researchers have been unable to replicate the positive results claimed by the developer.
Regulatory Status: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved antineoplastons to prevent or treat any disease. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Did David Emerson receive antineoplaston therapy?
I underwent antineoplaston therapy (A10, A2-1) from November 3, 1997-April 4th, 1999. After undergoing induction therapy (VAD), high-dose Cytoxan therapy, an autologous stem cell transplant, and radiation therapy, I reached end-stage MM. I then went to Houston, TX to undergo ANP therapy.
I went from end-stage MM to complete remission while undergoing ANP.
Antineoplaston Side Effects and Risks
Potential issue
Reported concern
Neurologic
Confusion, seizures, dizziness
Cardiovascular
Hypertension, irregular heartbeat
Blood
Anemia
Metabolic
Abnormal calcium levels
GI
Nausea, vomiting, appetite loss
General
Fatigue, fever/chills
Fluid balance
Edema/swelling
Antineoplaston Therapy: The Bottom Line
Question
Current evidence
Is antineoplaston therapy FDA-approved for cancer?
No
Are there published randomized controlled trials showing effectiveness?
No
Have cancer responses been reported?
Yes, primarily in case reports and nonrandomized studies
Have independent investigators consistently reproduced the results?
No
Can antineoplastons cause side effects?
Yes
Is there strong clinical evidence specifically for multiple myeloma?
Biological hypotheses and laboratory research exist
Human clinical evidence
★★☆☆☆
Case reports and nonrandomized/early-phase studies exist
Randomized controlled evidence
☆☆☆☆☆
No published randomized controlled trials demonstrating efficacy
Independent replication
★☆☆☆☆
Reported results have not been consistently independently reproduced
Evidence specifically for multiple myeloma
★☆☆☆☆
Extremely limited
Regulatory acceptance
☆☆☆☆☆
Not FDA-approved for cancer treatment
Overall PBC Evidence Rating
★☆☆☆☆ — Very Limited/Experimental
Interesting observations and patient experiences exist, but evidence is insufficient to establish efficacy
What this rating means: A one-star PBC rating does not mean that a therapy has been proven ineffective. It means there is currently insufficient high-quality clinical evidence to conclude that the therapy safely and reliably improves cancer outcomes.
To be clear, I believe that all newly diagnosed MM patients should undergo the SOC therapy plan, depending on your health and stage at diagnosis. If for no other reason than that your health insurance will probably cover what the FDA approves.
The first thing I must stress is that ANP and the BRI are controversial. It is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a fair assessment of the therapy from anyone educated about the issues.
It is for this reason that the first thing this blog post will do is list those therapies that I think most everyone will agree have anti-mm action. Meaning, do the therapies listed below before you undergo ANP.
All newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients must consider both conventional and non-conventional therapies. By itself, conventional SOC MM therapy does not cure MM, nor will only alternative MM therapies cure MM-
Standard-of-care induction MM therapy- unless you are pre-MM (SBP, MGUS, SMM), undergoing SOC induction therapy such as RVD to stabilize your MM is your best first step in managing MM.
Anti-angiogenic nutrition and supplementation- again, most everyone, conventional or non-conventional, will agree that a clean diet with anti-angiogenic fruits and veggies is a universally agreed upon step as an NDMM patient-
Non-conventional but evidence-based therapies such as frequent, moderate exercise and mind-body therapies also have a place in your MM armamentarium.
The therapies above are the basics for NDMM patients. Now, let me speak directly to ANP and the article linked below.
I don’t know enough about the science behind ANP- the idea that amino acids and peptides kill cancer-I can’t say if ANP is a cancer therapy-
Antineoplastons can be taken orally or injected into the bloodstream…I underwent 10 months of intravenous ANP and switched to another 7 months of oral ANP in capsules. Month after month, I watched the holes in my bones shrink and eventually disappear- I am non-secretory- imaging is my primary source of diagnosis-
Are there side effects? During the first two weeks on A10, A2-1 antineoplaston therapy, I experienced frequent headaches. For the next 10 months, being on intravenous ANP for 20 hours a day, I did not enjoy a continuous 8 hours of sleep. And yes, I had to pee a lot- every couple of hours.
What do studies show about the effectiveness of antineoplastons? The studies that I have read focus on a number of types of brain cancer. The BRI produces studies that compare ANP and conventional brain cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation. ANP is more effective, generally speaking. Further, I’ve included a spreadsheet below of results from a number of cancers and ANP.
A word of caution- Antineoplaston therapy costs thousands of dollars per month. I paid $7,000.00 per month, out-of-pocket, for each of the 10 months I was on intravenous A-10, A2-1. I paid $1,000.00 per month, out-of-pocket, for every one of the seven months on was on the oral aka capsule A10, A2-1. My total expenses for ANP and the BRI were about half of what my standard-of-care MM therapies cost. The difference, of course, is that my health insurance paid for most of my conventional therapy expenses while all of the costs associated with Burzynski were out-of-pocket.
I’ve always found it to be ironic that both my ASCT at the time (12/95) and ANP were considered to be “experimental therapies,” yet my health insurance paid for my ASCT, yet denied my ANP for being experimental…
If I knew then what I know now-
If I were an NDMM patient, I would undergo conventional therapies to stabilize my MM. Heal any bone, kidney, etc., damage.
Once stabilized, I would eat, supplement, exercise, etc., with those non-toxic therapies that have been shown to cause apoptosis of MM cells. There are dozens of evidence-based, non-toxic therapies that have been shown to kill MM. Conventional oncology will not discuss any of them because of the FDA…
Each time I came out of remission, I would undergo as little chemotherapy as possible to go back into remission- Into remission, out of remission, into, out of, etc., etc. I know too many MM patients who take a low-dose approach to therapy not to consider this approach-
Yes, I would research, learn about ANP, Poly MVA, IPT, etc., knowing that one day my MM may become resistant to all chemotherapy, aka MDR. But no, I would not undergo ANP immediately.
The bottom line is that anyone who is diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer like MM must learn all they can about any therapy that may help them achieve their goals.
Author disclosure: I underwent antineoplaston therapy from 1997–1999 following extensive conventional treatment for multiple myeloma. I subsequently achieved complete remission. My personal experience influences my interest in this therapy, but it does not establish that antineoplastons caused my remission or that another patient will experience the same outcome. This article distinguishes my experience from the published clinical evidence.
Results Reported by the Burzynski Research Institute
These figures were reported by the Burzynski organization and should not be interpreted as independently verified clinical-trial results. They are presented here to explain the claims made for antineoplaston therapy, not as proof of efficacy.
Comparison of Responses in 20 selected most common cancers (as of September 21, 2015)
Diagnosis
No. of patients
OR (%)
SD (%)
PD (%)
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
131
64
26
10
Breast Cancer
433
62
23
15
Carcinoma of unknown primary
42
57
36
7
Prostate Cancer
322
53
38
9
Ovarian Cancer
99
51
29
20
Head and Neck Cancer
87
51
29
20
Colon Cancer
229
51
28
21
Hodgkin’s Disease
16
50
38
12
Kidney Cancer
41
49
34
17
Malignant melanoma
63
49
21
30
Lung Cancer
179
46
33
21
Urinary Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
39
45
32
23
Esophageal and Stomach Cancer
55
44
29
27
Liver Cancer
20
40
25
35
Uterine, Cervix, Vulvar, Endometrium
51
39
31
30
Brain Tumor
189
37
39
24
Multiple Myeloma
21
36
43
Biliary Tract Tumor
20
30
40
30
Pancreatic Cancer
55
24
51
25
Mesothelioma
17
24
41
35
Data based on medical records of 2,280 evaluable patients
DEFINITIONS:
OR: Objective Response – includes CR and PR.
CR: Complete Response.Complete disappearance of all signs of cancer in response to treatment of 4 weeks or longer.
PR: Partial Response.More than 50% decrease in the size of the tumorsin response to treatment of 4 weeks or longer.
SD: Stable Disease.No decrease or increase in the size of the tumors, but no progression, in response to treatment of 12 weeks or longer.
PD: Progressive Disease.More then 50% increase in size of the tumors (the sum of cross-sectional area of the tumors), in response to treatment of 4 weeks or longer.
Evaluable Patients.Patients who remained on treatment long enough to enable an objective evaluation of the response.
I tried to reply. This Facebook platform blocked me! Rife, Gerson, and others like the doctor who used Hyperthermia. All shut down by the government FDA thugs!
You’re absolutely right. Royal Rife MD, Max Gerson, MD and others like one who used Hyperthermia, cured cancers but were harassed and shut down by our government, FDA thugs
It wouldn’t matter if Dr. Burzynski was curing 80% of the cancer patients coming in his clinic door. If the AMA/FDA/Big Pharma does not like his therapy and sees it as a threat to the status quo, then they will work to discredit and bury it. Just look at what happened to Royal Rife and the Hoxsey Clinic.
