CoQ10 and Cancer Treatment

As mentioned in our brief history of CoQ10, interest in CoQ10 as a cancer treatment arose in the early 1960's, when it was noticed that Co10 was deficient in cancer patients. CoQ10 was especially deficient in those with breast cancer. A subsequent study showed significant relationships between the severity of plasma coenzyme Q10 deficiency and breast cancer.

Data since has shown that CoQ10 stimulates immune systems, resulting in increased antibody levels, greater numbers and activities of macrophages and T cells. Macrophages, like those present in Coenzyme Q10, are immune cells that act as phagocytes, an antigen-presenting cell, and an important source of immune secretions.

It should be noted that since CoQ10 occurs naturally in the body and is treated as a nutritional supplement, CoQ10 has not been approved by the FDA as a treatment for cancer - and you should always consult your medical professional before seeking your own treatment of any illness, especially in the case of severe illnesses like cancer.

A Brief History of CoQ10 as a Cancer Treatment

Research for using coenzyme Q10 as a treatment for cancer began in 1961, when a deficiency of the coenzyme was noted in cancer patients. Low blood levels of CoQ10 have been found in patients with cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, pancreas, colon, kidney, head and neck, and in patients with myeloma, and lymphoma.

Numerous studies have since been conducted on the benefits of CoQ10 as an adjuvant therapy for cancer. Since CoQ10 stimulates the immune system and boosts resistances, it is seen as an effective followup therapy to main cancer treatments.

Benefits of CoQ10 Analogs in Cancer Treatment

CoQ10 has been shown to combat cancer indirectly by boosting the immune system, acting as an antioxidant, increasing resistances, and replacing the naturally occurring Coenzyme Q10 lost in cancer patients. Analogs of CoQ10, on the other hand, have been shown to combat cancer growth directly. Analogs of CoQ10 are compounds that act like CoQ10, but are not molecularly identical. Analogs of CoQ10 have been shown to slow the spread of cancer cells and the growth of cancer cells in some non-human studies.

These studies indicate that CoQ10 analogs may act as an antimetabolite in cancerous cells - that is, a compound that slows metabolic processes such as cell growth and division. In preventing cells from properly conducting their metabolic processes, CoQ10 analogs can prevent the spread and growth of cancer cells. This makes CoQ10 analogs especially useful as an adjuvant therapy to chemotherapeutic agents.

CoQ10 and T-Cells

It's been shown that CoQ10 leads to more antibodies, macrophages and T cells. Studies reportedly have shown that CoQ10 increases immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels and the CD4 to CD8 T-cell ratio in humans.

CD4 and CD8, whose development is increased by the presence of CoQ10, are proteins found on the surface of T cells. CD4 and CD8 identify helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells, respectively; decreased CD4 to CD8 T-cell ratios have been reported for cancer patients.