We can define the cancer as a disease characterized by disordered cell growth. This occurrence causes malignant tumors, which can spread to different parts of the body. There are more than 100 different types of cancer, some that are quick to treat and some that are relatively complicated to treat.
In view of the growing numbers of occurrence of this disease, mainly due to the increase in unhealthy habits, it is frequent to search for new treatments. Traditionally, the most used techniques are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently a new treatment emerged and gained attention throughout Brazil:the synthetic phosphoethanolamine.
→ What is synthetic phosphoethanolamine?
Synthetic phosphoethanolamine, also called "cancer pill", is a substance that was developed by researcher Gilberto Chierice, from the University of São Paulo (USP), from the São Carlos campus. The researcher responsible for the pill claims that it acts on different types of cancer, which led to a great search for the product.
It is noteworthy, however, that, despite the assertion of efficacy, no controlled clinical studies were carried out in humans, and the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) did not authorize the production of the substance, which cannot, therefore, be called medicine. When the distribution began, the researchers only had the results of studies carried out in mice.
→ Why did several people go to court to get the substance?
For over twenty years, synthetic phosphoethanolamine has been distributed to people looking to the University, however, in June 2014, the The Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos established the end of the production of the pill, which led several people to go to court seeking the release of the product. From then on, a series of legal disputes began to decide whether or not to release the substance.
In light of the legal dispute and pressure from the population, the government announced, in November 2015, that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) would invest 10 million reais in research on phosphoethanolamine. The first results were published in March 2016.
Even with the substance in the testing phase, the Senate approved on March 22, 2016 the bill that allows the manufacture and distribution of the substance. According to the project, "the production, manufacture, import, distribution, prescription, dispensing, possession or use of synthetic phosphoethanolamine, directed to the uses referred to in this Law, regardless of health registration, on an exceptional basis, while clinical studies on this substance." The project goes to the sanction of President Dilma Rousseff.
→ What is the importance of scientific studies on the action of phosphoethanolamine in humans?
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Despite having been distributed for over 20 years by USP, the substance has not been scientifically tested on human beings. This means that it is not known if there are risks related to the use of the product and if the “cancer pill” is really effective.
Many people, however, claim that, because it is used in terminally ill patients, the pill would be a last-ditch effort to fight the disease. However, we must always keep in mind that a product whose side effects are not known can bring pain and greater suffering to patients. Therefore, it is not because a person is terminally ill that we should expose them to risks.
→ What were the results of initial tests with synthetic phosphoethanolamine?
On March 18, 2016, the first test results in vitro with synthetic phosphoethanolamine were presented and showed little efficiency. The first problem concerns the concentration of phosphoethanolamine in the capsule, which was lower than expected. The presence of compounds that should not be present was also observed. The components found were water, protonated monoethanolamine, phosphobisethanolamine and calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, aluminum, zinc and barium phosphates.
In addition to the low amount of the substance and the incorrect composition, it was observed that phosphoethanolamine had no activity cytotoxic (ability to destroy cancer cells) nor anti-proliferative (ability to prevent cancer cells multiply). The only substance that showed activity against cancer cells was monoethanolamine, but with relatively low efficacy.
Despite the tests in vitro do not present the expected results, tests with material in vivo must be performed. According to the report published by those responsible for the study, a non-cytotoxic or cytotoxic molecule in high concentrations may present, as evidenced by published works with phosphoethanolamine, in vivo antitumor potential, possibly because it depends on metabolic routes to trigger its action. Therefore, preliminary results are not definitive and need further testing.
→ Can doctors prescribe synthetic phosphoethanolamine?
Synthetic phosphoethanolamine is not a drug released by Anvisa and, therefore, a doctor cannot prescribe it as a drug. The Regional Council of Medicine of São Paulo also informed that, if a doctor recommends the use of the product, it may suffer a warning and even cancellation.
ATTENTION: The reports produced by the laboratories that study phosphoethanolamine are published on the website of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). Click here and follow the studies!
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos