We investigated the dietary supplement Poly-MVA as an integrative treatment for a patient diagnosed with advanced stage 4 non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite multidrug resistance, the patient continued to have a good quality of life and did well on a performance scale score. The addition of Poly-MVA to her therapeutic protocol may have allowed her to feel well despite clinical failure as evidenced by rising tumor markers.
Approximately 2 years after diagnosis she responded to an older chemotherapeutic regimen of 5′–fluorouracil (5FU) and mitomycin-C while taking Poly-MVA. She had an excellent clinical response as confirmed by significant clinical improvement on a computed tomography scan. Her last tumor marker levels were significantly decreased, with her carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level slightly elevated at 5.5 (normal is < 3.1 ng/mL) and her CA 19-9 normal at 16.7 (normal is < 30 µ/mL). She continues to have a good quality of life, does well on the performance scale, feels well and remains on Poly-MVA.
After providing background on NSCLC and pharmaceuticals and on Poly-MVA, we describe the patient’s treatment with this supplement and her response to it.