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December 9, 1992, Vol 268, No. 22 >
ARTICLE | December 9, 1992

A Critique of the Rationale for Cancer Treatment With Coffee Enemas and Diet FREE

Saul Green, PhD
JAMA. 1992;268(22):3224-3227. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03490220068030
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References

WHEN THE RATIONALES offered in support of most unorthodox medical treatments are critically examined, they are frequently found to be scientifically invalid. Yet, according to a recent survey,1 over 60% of the practitioners of "unproven treatments" for cancer hold an MD, a PhD, or both, from an accredited medical school or graduate school. Therefore, when a patient asks his or her physician for an explanation of an unproven medical treatment being offered by another trained and licensed physician, it is not enough for the patient's physician to simply label the "unorthodox" treatment as quackery. To make an effective contribution to the patient's understanding and decision-making process, the clinician must know whether the claims being made for the treatment are supported by scientific evidence and he or she must be able to discuss that evidence in language that is understood by the patient.

The explanations justifying the use of coffee

REFERENCES

1 +
Cassileth BR, Lusk EJ, Strouse TB, Bodenheimer BJ.  Contemporary unorthodox treatments in cancer medicine: a study of patients, treatments and practitioners. Ann Intern Med . 1984;;101:105-112.
2 +
Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;.
3 +
Gerson M.  The cure of advanced cancer by diet therapy: a summary of 30 years of clinical experimentation. Phys Chem Phys . 1978;;10:449-464.
4 +
Hesse CC. The Gerson Primer . Tijuana, Mexico: Hospital La Gloria SA; 1982;.
5 +
Hildenbrand G.  A coffee enema? now I've heard everything. Healing Newslett . (May-June) 1986;:1-4.
6 +
Lechner P.  Dietary regimen to be used in oncological post-operative care.  In: Program and abstracts of the proceedings of the Austrian Society for Surgery ; June 21-23, 1984;; Graz, Austria. Abstract.
7 +
Lechner P. Cited by: Hildenbrand G.  Coffee enemas.  In: Healing Newslett . 1990;;6:25-40.
8 +
Lichtenfelt H. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:21.
9 +
Von Bergmann G. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:42.
10 +
Lorand A. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:94.
11 +
Hoffman FA. Cancer and Diet . Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1937;.
12 +
Bauer KH. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:41, 55-56, 98-99,102, 105, 130, 207.
13 +
Shyrock RH. The Development of Modern Medicine . Madison: University of Wisconsin Press Inc; 1980;.
14 +
Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress. Unconventional Cancer Treatments . Washington, DC: Office of Technology Assessment; 1990;. Publication No. OTA-H-405.
15 +
American Cancer Society.  Unproven methods of cancer management: Gerson method. CA Cancer J Clin . 1990;;40:252-256.
16 +
Aisenberg A. The Glycolysis and Respiration of Tumors: A Monograph . New York, NY: Academic Press Inc; 1961;:150-157.
17 +
Pitot HC, Dragan YP.  Facts and theories concerning the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. FASEB J . 1991;;5:2280-2286.
18 +
Solomon E, Borrow J, Goddard AD.  Chromosome aberrations and cancer. Science . 1991;;254:1153-1160.
19 +
Baserga R.  The genetic basis of cell proliferation.  In: The Biology of Cell Reproduction . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1985;:179-210.
20 +
Klaassen CD, Amdur MO, Doull J, eds. Cassarett and Doulle's Toxicology—The Basic Science of Poisons . 3rd ed. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Co Inc; 1986;:50-51, 76.
21 +
Bryson PD, ed.  Stimulants.  In: Comprehensive Review in Toxicology . 2nd ed. Rockville, Md: Aspen Publishers Inc; 1989;:374-376.
22 +
Berk JE, ed. Bockus-Gastroenterology Vol I . 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1985;;1: 1505-2705.
23 +
Arius IM, ed. The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology . New York, NY: Raven Press; 1982;:429-465.
24 +
Carey FA. Organic Chemistry . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill International Book Co; 1987;:1074.
25 +
Herbert V.  Vitamins and minerals.  In: Herbert V, ed. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine Complete Book of Nutrition . New York, NY: St Martin's Press; 1991;.
26 +
Eisele JW, Reay DT.  Deaths related to coffee enemas. JAMA . 1980;;244:1608-1609.
27 +
Ginsberg MM, Thompson MA, Peter CR, Ramas DG, Chin J.  Campylobacter sepsis associated with nutritional therapy in California. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 1981;;30:294-295.
28 +
Istre GR, Kreiss K, Hopkins RS, et al.  An outbreak of amebiasis spread by colonic irrigation at a chiropractic clinic. N Engl J Med . 1982;;307:339-342.
29 +
Chasseaud LF.  The role of glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in the metabolism of chemical carcinogens and other electrophilic agents. Adv Cancer Res . 1979;;29:175-274.
30 +
Lam LKT, Sparnins VL, Wattenberg LW.  Isolation and identification of kahweol palmitate and cafestol palmitate as active constituents in green coffee beans that enhance glutathione S-transferase activity in the mouse. Cancer Res . 1982;;42:1193-1198.
31 +
Lam LKT, Sparnins VL, Wattenberg LW.  Effects of derivatives of kahweol and cafestol on the activity of glutathione S-transferase in mice. J Med Chem . 1987;;30:1399-1403.
32 +
Sternson LA.  Obstacles to polypeptide delivery in biological approaches to controlled delivery of drugs. Ann N Y Acad Sci . 1987;;507:19-22.
33 +
Dixon M, Webb EC, eds. In: The Enzymes . 2nd ed. New York, NY: Academic Press Inc; 1964;.
34 +
Kabat EA, Mayer MM, eds. In: Experimental Immunochemistry . 2nd ed. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas Publishers Inc; 1961;.
35 +
Coley WB.  The treatment of malignant tumors by repeated inocculations of erysipelas: a report of 10 cases. Am J Med Sci . 1893;;105:487-511.
36 +
Nauts HC, Fowler GA, Bogatko FH.  Review of the influence of bacterial infection and of bacterial products (Coley's toxin) on malignant tumors in man. Acta Med Scand . 1953;;145( (suppl) ):276.
37 +
Morahan PS, Volkman A, Melnicoff M, Dempsey WL.  Macrophage heterogeneity.  In: Hepner GH, Fulton AM, eds. Macrophages and Cancer . Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press Inc; 1988;:12-13.
38 +
Joklik WK, Willett HP, Amos DB, eds.  Immunopathology.  In: Zinsser Microbiology . 18th ed. East Norwalk, Conn: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1984;:367-387.
39 +
Tracey KJ, Cerami A.  Metabolic responses to cachectin/TNF: micronutrients and immune function. Ann N Y Acad Sci . 1990;;587:325-331.
40 +
Lee MD, Zentella A, Pekala P, Cerami A.  Effect of endotoxin induced monokines on glucose metabolism in muscle cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1990;;84:2590-2594.
41 +
Aggarwal BB, Aiyer RA, Pennica D, Gray PW, Goeddel DV.  Human tumor necrosis factors: structure and receptor interactions in tumor necrosis factor and related cytotoxins.  In: Ciba Foundation Symposium 131 . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1987;:39-51.
42 +
Kurt-Jones EA, Beller DI, Mizel SB, Unanue ER.  Identification of a membrane associated interleukin I in macrophages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1985;;82:1204-1208.
43 +
Warren RS, Starnes JL, Gibriove HF, Oettgen HF, Brennen MF.  Metabolic effects of TNF administration in humans. Arch Surg . 1987;;122:1396-1400.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Cassileth BR, Lusk EJ, Strouse TB, Bodenheimer BJ.  Contemporary unorthodox treatments in cancer medicine: a study of patients, treatments and practitioners. Ann Intern Med . 1984;;101:105-112.
2 +
Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;.
3 +
Gerson M.  The cure of advanced cancer by diet therapy: a summary of 30 years of clinical experimentation. Phys Chem Phys . 1978;;10:449-464.
4 +
Hesse CC. The Gerson Primer . Tijuana, Mexico: Hospital La Gloria SA; 1982;.
5 +
Hildenbrand G.  A coffee enema? now I've heard everything. Healing Newslett . (May-June) 1986;:1-4.
6 +
Lechner P.  Dietary regimen to be used in oncological post-operative care.  In: Program and abstracts of the proceedings of the Austrian Society for Surgery ; June 21-23, 1984;; Graz, Austria. Abstract.
7 +
Lechner P. Cited by: Hildenbrand G.  Coffee enemas.  In: Healing Newslett . 1990;;6:25-40.
8 +
Lichtenfelt H. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:21.
9 +
Von Bergmann G. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:42.
10 +
Lorand A. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:94.
11 +
Hoffman FA. Cancer and Diet . Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1937;.
12 +
Bauer KH. Cited by: Gerson M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases . 3rd ed. Del Mar, Calif: Totality Books; 1977;:41, 55-56, 98-99,102, 105, 130, 207.
13 +
Shyrock RH. The Development of Modern Medicine . Madison: University of Wisconsin Press Inc; 1980;.
14 +
Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress. Unconventional Cancer Treatments . Washington, DC: Office of Technology Assessment; 1990;. Publication No. OTA-H-405.
15 +
American Cancer Society.  Unproven methods of cancer management: Gerson method. CA Cancer J Clin . 1990;;40:252-256.
16 +
Aisenberg A. The Glycolysis and Respiration of Tumors: A Monograph . New York, NY: Academic Press Inc; 1961;:150-157.
17 +
Pitot HC, Dragan YP.  Facts and theories concerning the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. FASEB J . 1991;;5:2280-2286.
18 +
Solomon E, Borrow J, Goddard AD.  Chromosome aberrations and cancer. Science . 1991;;254:1153-1160.
19 +
Baserga R.  The genetic basis of cell proliferation.  In: The Biology of Cell Reproduction . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1985;:179-210.
20 +
Klaassen CD, Amdur MO, Doull J, eds. Cassarett and Doulle's Toxicology—The Basic Science of Poisons . 3rd ed. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Co Inc; 1986;:50-51, 76.
21 +
Bryson PD, ed.  Stimulants.  In: Comprehensive Review in Toxicology . 2nd ed. Rockville, Md: Aspen Publishers Inc; 1989;:374-376.
22 +
Berk JE, ed. Bockus-Gastroenterology Vol I . 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1985;;1: 1505-2705.
23 +
Arius IM, ed. The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology . New York, NY: Raven Press; 1982;:429-465.
24 +
Carey FA. Organic Chemistry . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill International Book Co; 1987;:1074.
25 +
Herbert V.  Vitamins and minerals.  In: Herbert V, ed. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine Complete Book of Nutrition . New York, NY: St Martin's Press; 1991;.
26 +
Eisele JW, Reay DT.  Deaths related to coffee enemas. JAMA . 1980;;244:1608-1609.
27 +
Ginsberg MM, Thompson MA, Peter CR, Ramas DG, Chin J.  Campylobacter sepsis associated with nutritional therapy in California. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 1981;;30:294-295.
28 +
Istre GR, Kreiss K, Hopkins RS, et al.  An outbreak of amebiasis spread by colonic irrigation at a chiropractic clinic. N Engl J Med . 1982;;307:339-342.
29 +
Chasseaud LF.  The role of glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in the metabolism of chemical carcinogens and other electrophilic agents. Adv Cancer Res . 1979;;29:175-274.
30 +
Lam LKT, Sparnins VL, Wattenberg LW.  Isolation and identification of kahweol palmitate and cafestol palmitate as active constituents in green coffee beans that enhance glutathione S-transferase activity in the mouse. Cancer Res . 1982;;42:1193-1198.
31 +
Lam LKT, Sparnins VL, Wattenberg LW.  Effects of derivatives of kahweol and cafestol on the activity of glutathione S-transferase in mice. J Med Chem . 1987;;30:1399-1403.
32 +
Sternson LA.  Obstacles to polypeptide delivery in biological approaches to controlled delivery of drugs. Ann N Y Acad Sci . 1987;;507:19-22.
33 +
Dixon M, Webb EC, eds. In: The Enzymes . 2nd ed. New York, NY: Academic Press Inc; 1964;.
34 +
Kabat EA, Mayer MM, eds. In: Experimental Immunochemistry . 2nd ed. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas Publishers Inc; 1961;.
35 +
Coley WB.  The treatment of malignant tumors by repeated inocculations of erysipelas: a report of 10 cases. Am J Med Sci . 1893;;105:487-511.
36 +
Nauts HC, Fowler GA, Bogatko FH.  Review of the influence of bacterial infection and of bacterial products (Coley's toxin) on malignant tumors in man. Acta Med Scand . 1953;;145( (suppl) ):276.
37 +
Morahan PS, Volkman A, Melnicoff M, Dempsey WL.  Macrophage heterogeneity.  In: Hepner GH, Fulton AM, eds. Macrophages and Cancer . Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press Inc; 1988;:12-13.
38 +
Joklik WK, Willett HP, Amos DB, eds.  Immunopathology.  In: Zinsser Microbiology . 18th ed. East Norwalk, Conn: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1984;:367-387.
39 +
Tracey KJ, Cerami A.  Metabolic responses to cachectin/TNF: micronutrients and immune function. Ann N Y Acad Sci . 1990;;587:325-331.
40 +
Lee MD, Zentella A, Pekala P, Cerami A.  Effect of endotoxin induced monokines on glucose metabolism in muscle cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1990;;84:2590-2594.
41 +
Aggarwal BB, Aiyer RA, Pennica D, Gray PW, Goeddel DV.  Human tumor necrosis factors: structure and receptor interactions in tumor necrosis factor and related cytotoxins.  In: Ciba Foundation Symposium 131 . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1987;:39-51.
42 +
Kurt-Jones EA, Beller DI, Mizel SB, Unanue ER.  Identification of a membrane associated interleukin I in macrophages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1985;;82:1204-1208.
43 +
Warren RS, Starnes JL, Gibriove HF, Oettgen HF, Brennen MF.  Metabolic effects of TNF administration in humans. Arch Surg . 1987;;122:1396-1400.

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