How It Works
Bottom Line: Cancell® has been shown to have no anticancer activity. The theories used to promote this product are scientifically unsound and the product should be avoided.
CanCell® (also called Entelev® or Cantron®) was developed by a chemist in the 1930s. Its exact ingredients are unknown, but it is thought to contain catechol (stabilizes collagen and is used in tanning and dyeing), nitric acid (an intermediate used in the manufacturing of fertilizers and explosives), sodium sulfite, potassium hydroxide (a caustic material), sulfuric acid (a corrosive liquid), crocinic acid, and various minerals and vitamins. This mixture of harsh chemicals, the manufacturers claim, is supposed to normalize the cellular metabolism and balance the vibrational frequency of cancer cells, causing them to die or return to a healthy state. Scientists from the National Cancer Institute have reviewed these theories, and have tested CanCell® in laboratory studies on cancer cells, and have concluded that CanCell® has no anticancer activity. Furthermore, the theories on which CanCell® is claimed to work are scientifically unsound; there is no proof that cancer cells, which have irreversible genetic mutations, can be "normalized" by changing their metabolism. The ingredients found in CanCell® may do more harm than good to the body.
Purported Uses
NOTE: None of the following uses are supported by scientific evidence. The scientific basis of CanCell® is questionable, and no clinical trials have been conducted to support or refute these proposed uses.
- To treat Alzheimer's disease
- To treat cancer
- To treat cystic fibrosis
- To treat Diabetes
- To treat emphysema
- To treat epilepsy
- To treat Epstein-Barr virus
- To treat hemophilia
- To treat herpes
- To treat HIV and AIDS
- To lower high blood pressure
- To raise low blood pressure
- To treat multiple sclerosis
- To treat scleroderma
- To treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Research Evidence
Although the manufacturers of CanCell® claim that extensive studies in mice and humans show that it is effective, none of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals. In 1978 and 1980, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted animal studies with CanCell® and found that the product lacked significant antitumor activity. The NCI's In Vitro Anticancer Drug Discovery Program evaluated CanCell® in 1990-1, also with negative results. It was determined that no further research on CanCell®/Entelev® was warranted. (See http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_13.htm for more information).
Warnings
- In 1989, the FDA was granted a permanent injunction against both manufacturers of Cancell®/Entelev®, prohibiting them from distributing the mixture, which is classified as an unapproved new drug. As such, it is not required to be manufactured under specific standardized conditions. This product may not contain the labeled amount or may be contaminated. In addition, it may not have been tested for safety or effectiveness.
Side Effects
- Fatigue
- Cancer patients may have progression of their disease if they follow the manufacturer's recommendation not to pursue conventional cancer treatment while taking CanCell®.
Special Point
The manufacturers of CanCell® and Cantron® offer conflicting theories, both unfounded, explaining their product's anti-cancer activity.
Common Name
Entelev®, Cantron®, Sheridan's formula, JS-114, JS-101, 126-F, Jim's Juice, Quantrol, Protocel®
Clinical Summary
Unproven alternative treatment containing a variety of ingredients depending on manufacturer (e.g catechol, nitric acid, sodium sulfite, potassium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, crocinic acid, and various minerals and vitamins). Patients use this product to prevent and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and other immunologic and degenerative diseases. Proposed by James Sheridan in the 1930s that this product balances the vibrational frequency of cancer cells and returns them to their healthy state is unsupported by our understanding of human physiology (1) (2). No studies have been published evaluating the use of CanCell® for any proposed claims. Fatigue is the only reported adverse event. Manufacturers of CanCell® discourage the combination of CanCell® with conventional oncology treatments (1). Patients should be warned against using this product.
Purported uses
Alzheimer's disease
Cancer treatment
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes
Emphysema
Epilepsy
Hemophilia
Herpes
HIV and AIDS
Hypertension
Hypotension
Multiple sclerosis
Scleroderma
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Viral infections
Constituents
Nitric acid
Sodium sulfite
Potassium hydroxide
Sulfuric acid
Catechol
Crocinic acid
Inositol
Minerals
Vitamins
(1)
Mechanism of Action
The manufacturers of CanCell
® and Cantron
® offer different theories, both unfounded, explaining their product's anti-cancer activity. Its use is based on the assumption that cancer cells function at a "critical point" of cellular respiration, above which normal cells function aerobically, and below which abnormal anaerobic cells are destroyed as foreign matter. The catechol component is claimed to inhibit cellular respiration in cancer cells so that they might fall from the "critical point" to a primitive state and self-destruct. In addition, CanCell
® supposedly balances the vibrational frequency of cancer cells, returning them to a normal state. The manufacturers of Cantron
® claim that imbalance in cellular respiration results in cellular damage. Cantron
® allegedly helps maintain balance through the electrolyte and antioxidant properties of its hydroxyquinone and catechol components. Neither set of claims is substantiated by scientific data or consistent with any scientific construct.
(1) (2)
Pharmacokinetics
No formal pharmacokinetics studies exist. The manufacturer states that the product is absorbed orally, sublingually, topically, and rectally.
(1)
Adverse Reactions
Reported: Fatigue
Cancer patients may have progression of disease, if they follow the manufacturer's recommendation not to combine CanCell
® and mainstream cancer treatment.
(1)
Herb-Drug Interactions
Manufacturer suggests that CanCell
® not be combined with vitamins or smoking, and discourages concomitant use of conventional cancer treatments.
(1)
Literature Summary and Critique
No published human, animal, or in vitro studies evaluate CanCell® for any proposed claim. Although the manufacturers of CanCell® maintain that extensive studies in mice and humans document its efficacy, no results have been published in peer-reviewed journals. In 1978 and 1980, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted animal studies with CanCell® and found that the product lacked significant antitumor activity. The NCI's In Vitro Anticancer Drug Discovery Program evaluated CanCell® in 1990-1, also with negative results. Neither study was published. It was determined that no further research on CanCell®/Entelev® was warranted.
(See http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_13.htm).
References
