IPT

Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT) is an experimental cancer treatment method that aims to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs by utilizing insulin. The theory behind IPT is that by temporarily inducing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients, cancer cells become more vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs.

Cancer cells, it is believed, possess a higher amount of glucose transporters (GLUTs) on their surface which enables them to absorb more glucose than normal cells. As a result, an increased uptake of glucose in cancer cells makes them more responsive to chemotherapy drugs which are often metabolized through the same GLUTs.

The IPT procedure includes administering a low dose of insulin to the patient, followed by a small dose of chemotherapy. The insulin causes a drop in the patient’s blood sugar level, making cancer cells absorb more glucose. Then the low-dose chemotherapy is administered, and it is believed that cancer cells take up more of the drug as a result. This is supposed to make chemotherapy more effective while minimizing its effects on healthy cells.

There are some studies that suggest IPT may be more effective than standard chemotherapy in treating certain types of cancer, like a study published in Cancer journal in 2000 that stated that IPT was more effective than standard chemotherapy in treating advanced ovarian cancer patients. The study also reported that IPT was well-tolerated and did not cause severe side effects.

In addition to these benefits, IPT may also have immune-boosting effects. Some studies have suggested that IPT may stimulate the immune system and improve its ability to fight cancer.