Most clinical trials are done with Avemar branded Fermented Wheat Germ Extracts. Other brands include Metatrol and Cellfend. There are some striking results as a supporting therapy for colorectal cancer in terms of reducing recurrence and progression risks. Also in melanoma and prostate cancers as an “adjuvant” to oncology treatment programs of various kinds, and here mainly in advanced stage cancer patients resistant to first line drugs. Some trials are even more impressive considering its a single functional food class adjuvant product added to oncology drugs in the hope it can rescue a failing treatment program.
Results in terms of reduced overall progression risk and disease free progression very clearly motivate wider trials with fermented wheatgerm products. And argue compellingly for their inclusion in treatment, both for these direct actions but also the evidence on improving patient quality of life. As with recently introduced drugs like immunotherapy agents or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the impact can vary depending on cancer type and stage, individual biology and so on. But side effects are in many cases reduced by FWGE.
FWGE demonstrates clear evidence as an immunomodulatory – immune system balancing – compound. For instance in suppressing components of the immune system which cancers amplify to drive their growth and spread [Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I proteins] upregulated. Also by reducing inflammatory markers in the gut and improvement in microbiome. Effects on estrogen suggest, as always, the need for qualified medical opinion on use of FWGE over the counter supplements particularly in breast cancers.
There is strong pre-clinical evidence that fermented wheatgerm has anti-metastatic effects but more clear evidence is needed. Active ingredients include 2,6-Dimethoxy Benzoquinone –Â seek out quality brands such as Avemar, CellFend, Diatom Rx and prefereably use the official stores. There is a need for more vendor independent verification of these compounds, but research continues in that direction.
TBD
This open-label cohort trial has compared anticancer treatments plus MSC (9 g once daily) vs anticancer treatments alone in colorectal patients…Sixty-six colorectal cancer patients received MSC [FWGE] supplement for more than 6 months ..End-point analysis revealed that progression-related events were significantly less frequent in the MSC group (new recurrences: 3.0 vs 17.3% ; new metastases: 7.6 vs 23.1% ; deaths: 12.1 vs 31.7%). Continuous supplementation of ant...
..the efficacy of dacarbazine chemotherapy on survival parameters of melanoma patients was compared to that of the same treatment supplemented with a 1-year long administration of FWGE…At the end of an additional 7-year-long follow-up analyses showed significant differences in both progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in favor of the FWGE group. Mean PFS: 55.8 months versus 29.9 months (control group). Mean OS: 66.2 months versus 44.7 months (control group)…inclusion o...
..a 2020 pilot study, with statistically small sample size, some anticancer clinical activity of FWGE could be seen in the CRPC [prostate cancer] patients, as measured by prostate specific antigen doubling time …intake of GnRH [(gonadotropin releasing hormone, GnRH] with FWGE for at least 4 months, improved the quality of life (QOL) in 4 patients (11%) and was instrumental in extending the PSADT in about 17 (out of 26) patients (65.4%), six of whom were significant…this treatmen...
Cancer has been considered as Mitochondriopathy. Therefore, restoration of mitochondrial biology in a way that activates the Krebs’ cycle and manage apoptotic machinery might result in a breakthrough in the field of cancer medicine. One of those approach is that Schwartz et al., suggested the usage of metabolic treatment (Hydroxycitrate + α-Lipoic Acid) will restore the mitochondrial function8,33,34. Parallel of the context, the current work shows that FWGE has comparable pharmacologic...
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| URL | Rating | Highlight | Highlight 2 | Visuals (click) |
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| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2394381/ | 4.5 | As MSC [Fermented Wheatgerm Extracts] was given in combination and, for the majority (87%) of the radio/chemotherapy-treated patients, simultaneous with radio/chemotherapy, its effects could not be separated from the benefits of the conventional treatment modalities, nor could the possibly beneficial impact of MSC administration on previously applied radio/chemotherapy be measured. It is interesting that similar to its 70% neoplastic tumour-preventing effect in an experimental colon carcinogenesis model, in the present study MSC decreased the risk of death among colorectal cancer patients by nearly 70% | MSC displays multiple effects on the immune system. The downregulation of MHC class I molecules on the membrane surface of the tumour cells by MSC increases the natural killer cell activity against neoplastic cells (Fajka-Boja et al, 2002). The upregulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion by the MSC-treated macrophages increases the antitumour activity of these cells (Telekes and Hidvégi, 2001). It is noteworthy that MSC enhances the activity of two of the most effective anticancer cellular immune mechanisms. It has also been shown that MSC upregulates the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the endothelial cells |  |
| http://www.avemarresearch.com/pdf/1A-AdjuvantFermentedWheatGermExtractAvemarNutraceuticalImprovesSurvivalofHigh-RiskSkinMelanomaPatients.pdf | 4 | In a randomized, pilot, phase II clinical trial, the efficacy of dacarbazine (DTIC)-based adjuvant chemotherapy on survival parameters of melanoma patients was compared to that of the same treatment supplemented with a 1-year long administration of FWGE..Mean OS: 66.2 months (FWGE group) versus 44.7 months (control group), p = 0.0298. Conclusions: The inclusion of Avemar [FWGE] into the adjuvant protocols of high-risk skin melanoma patients is highly recommended | We, therefore, highly recommend the inclusion of this fermented wheat-germ-extract-based med- ical nutriment into the adjuvant protocols of high- risk skin melanoma patients. We also encourage colleagues worldwide to further test this nontoxic active preparation in melanoma and in other types of human cancers. |  |
| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3179707/ | 3.5 | Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE) is a multisubstance composition and, besides others, contains 2-methoxy benzoquinone and 2, 6-dimethoxy benzoquinone which are likely to exert some of its biological effects. FWGE interferes with anaerobic glycolysis, pentose cycle and ribonucleotide reductase. It has significant antiproliferative effects and kills tumor cells by the induction of apoptosis via the caspase-poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-pathway. FWGE interacts synergistically with a variety of different anticancer drugs and exerted antimetastatic properties in mouse models. In addition, FWGE modulates immune response by downregulation of MHC-I complex and the induction of TNF-α and various interleukins. Data in the F-344 rat model provide evidence for a colon cancer preventing effect of FWGE. | In clinical use, FWGE is very well tolerated at the recommended dose and posseses a broad therapeutic window [26]. Besides its antitumoral activity, FWGE seems to exert additional effects leading to improvement of quality of life [15]. This might be in part explained by the metabolic changes in cancer patients induced by FWGE. Its interference with the PPP switching from nonoxidative to oxidative reaction leads to decreased nucleic acid synthesis from glucose to direct glucose oxidation and lipid synthesis. This in turn may result in weight gain of the patient and improvement of body shape [15,39]. It is interesting to note, that FWGE has a similar metabolic effect and targets components of the PPP like the well known targeted drug imatinib (Glivec®) | |
| https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002192581933251X | 3 | Avemar is a natural fermented wheat germ extract with no known toxicities, and it is a strong regulator of leukemia tumor cell macromolecule synthesis, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and proliferation. Avemar regulates metabolic enzymes that are involved in glucose carbon redistribution between proliferation-related structural and functional macromolecules (RNA, DNA). Avemar [FWGE] treatment results in profound intracellular metabolic changes that bring devastating consequences for the proliferation of leukemia cells of the lymphoid lineag | Avemar has additional multiple effects on metabolic enzymes, and it simultaneously inhibits oxidative and nonoxidative ribose synthesis as well as the activation of glucose and glycolysis. Individual components of fermented wheat germ may be important anticancer natural drugs both as nutritional supplements and as therapeutic agents after they have been isolated and identified. |  |
| https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2007.25.18_suppl.21132 | 3 | The tumor growth inhibitory effect of Avemar [FWGE] on ER positive mouse breast carcinoma as well as in xenograft models are comparable (equal or better) to standard endocrine [chemotherapy] treatments. Avemar certainly did not reduce the effect of endocrine treatments. The antitumor activity of Avemar did not depend on the estrogen receptor status. | The other treatments did not exceed the effect of Avemar monotherapy. In xenograft model Avemar produced 50% tumor growth inhibition compared to control and was more effective than the other treatments Examestane (26%), Anastrasol (25%) or Tamoxifen (42%). Combined treatment with Avemar always improved efficacy within the range of 3–10%. Avemar showed similar efficacy when T47/D (49%) and MDA-MB-231 (52%) xenografts were compared | |
| https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/9/448 | 3 | Given the poor outcome in patients with advanced stage NSCLC and the toxicity of currently available therapies, new therapeutics that are less toxic are needed. FWGP could be a promising natural agent that has minimal toxicity and demonstrated efficacy, and thus deserves further study in other preclinical models of lung cancer and clinical human trials. | Fermenting raw wheat germ with Saccharomyces cerevisiae releases stable quinone and ascorbic radicals which, along with fibers, phytic acids and proteins, likely contribute to the broad activity towards cancer cells and immune cells. Early evidence suggests the rate of decay or quenching of these stable radicals is proportional to the survival of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, suggesting a direct cytotoxic mechanism |  |
| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888675/ | 2 | The anticancer compound 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DMBQ) is the major bioactive compound in FWGE and is probably responsible for its anticancer activity... Both FWGE and the DMBQ compound induced massive [cancer] cell damage within 24 h after starting treatment, with changes in the cellular redox state secondary to formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Unlike the DMBQ compound, which was only cytotoxic, FWGE exhibited cytostatic and growth delay effects in addition to cytotoxicity. Both cytostatic and growth delay effects were linked to impaired glucose utilization.... The growth delay effect in response to FWGE treatment led to induction of autophagy. | In addition to its cytotoxic effect, FWGE also has cytostatic and growth delay effects at a concentration of 10 mg/ml after 24 h of incubation, while 24 μmol/l of the DMBQ compound (equal to the DMBQ concentration in FWGE) was uniformly cytotoxic for all cancer cell lines we tested. The oxidative cell damage potential of activated DMBQ was confirmed by aberrant intracellular DCF fluorescence, indicating increased levels of intracellular ROS. A marked increase of ROS was also found to underlie the cytotoxic effect of FWGE. Moderate levels of intracellular ROS were found to underlie the cytostatic and growth delay effects of FWGE which were linked to impaired glucose utilization and induction of autophagy, a previously unknown mechanism of FWGE for targeting cancer cell metabolism. | |
| https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/570785/ | 2 | FWGE exhibited combination drug effects with cisplatin and docetaxel in SKOV-3 and ES-2 cells by enhancing the cytotoxicity of both drugs. In conclusion, we found that FWGE not only suppressed cell growth but also induced caspase-3-related and caspase-7-related cell death in human ovarian carcinoma cells. FWGE treatment further enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and docetaxel, suggesting that FWGE is a potential ingredient in the development of adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin or docetaxel for treating ovarian cancer patients | the combination treatment of FWGE with cisplatin or docetaxel enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and docetaxel. We also examined the combination drug effects of FWGE with cisplatin and docetaxel and determined it to have a synergistic effect within a certain range of cisplatin or docetaxel. A collective summary is displayed in Figure 4. In conclusion, FWGE is a potential ingredient for the development of a novel adjuvant cancer chemotherapy targeting ovarian cancer | |
| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8180943/ | 1.5 | Four weeks of WG supplementation resulted in improvements in markers of glucose homeostasis and reduction of the pro-inflammatory adipokine, resistin. However, these improvements in markers of glucose homeostasis due to WG consumption is not due to changes within the gut (i.e., bacterial population, gut integrity, and SCFAs production). The mechanism by which WG improve glucose homeostasis is unclear at this time and needs to be investigated in future studies. Our findings indicate that WG may be a safe, effective and economical approach to improve glucose homeostasis. | Thirty-nine participants completed the 4-week supplementation (n = 20 and 19 for the WG and control group, respectively). There were no differences in the lipid profile, but glycated hemoglobin (P = 0.04), insulin (P = 0.03), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (P = 0.04) were significantly decreased in the WG but not the control group. Additionally, the adipokine resistin, which is correlated with insulin resistance, was also significantly reduced (P = 0.03) by WG supplementation but not the control | |
| https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-71118-3 | 1 | The 68% tumor growth inhibitory effect observed in the murine melanoma study is related to this effect, as proteomic analysis validated similar changes in mitochondrial protein levels in the isolated tumor tissue samples. Blood count data indicated that this effect was not accompanied by general toxicity. This study is significant, as it shows that a highly concentrated form of FWGE is an effective agent that increases normal mitochondrial functionality. The lack of hepatotoxic and general toxic effects makes A250 an excellent candidate targeting mitochondria function in cancer therapy. | One of those approach is that Schwartz et al., suggested the usage of metabolic treatment (Hydroxycitrate + α-Lipoic Acid) will restore the mitochondrial function8,33,34. Parallel of the context, the current work shows that FWGE has comparable pharmacological effect. As a non-toxic, orally available, and efficient in vivo tumor growth inhibitor, A250 has the potential to support standard chemotherapy treatments and targeted therapies by modulating cellular energy balance and enhancing apoptosis. |  |
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