Immune Augmentation Therapy (IAT)
This treatment modality is used in place of conventional therapies to treat cancer. Seek advice from a qualified physician before replacing standard cancer therapy with Immune Augmentation therapy.
What does Immune Augmentation Therapy involve?
Dr. Lawrence Burton, PhD, a zoologist, developed the theories behind IAT while working with fruit flies at California Institute of Technology. Therapy involves daily or twice-daily tests of the levels and proportions of four proteins. Subcutaneous injections are then administered to bring these four proteins back into equilibrium. A computer program determines doses. The four proteins are:
- tumor antibody factor (TNF) - responsible for destruction of cancer cells
- tumor complement factor (TCF) - responsible for stimulation of "tumor antibody"
- blocking protein factor (BPF) - responsible for repression of "tumor antibody"
- deblocking protein factor (DPF) - responsible for blocking protein neutralization
All proteins used in IAT are derived from the blood of healthy donors, with the exception of TCF, which comes from the patient.
How is Immune Augmentation Therapy thought to treat cancer?
Dr. Burton believes that cancer grows uncontrolled when the body's immune system is not in balance or is immunosuppressed, characterized by a state when BPF levels are high and TCF and DPF levels are low. He has suggested that TNFs attack the tumor and DPFs disable the BPFs that prevent the patient's immune system from detecting and fighting the cancer. IAT tries to restore the natural balance of systemic levels of tumor killing immune complexes.
What has been proven about the benefit of Immune Augmentation Therapy?
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center conducted an extensive human studies literature review and found two studies applicable to cancer. Both studies reported an increase in mean survival time but neither reported statistics to verify their findings. IAT is not available in the U.S. If sufficient data is generated that suggests that IAT has significant antitumor activity, the FDA will allow clinical trials in the U.S. The American Cancer Society urges patients with cancer not to seek IAT until evidence of treatment efficacy is found.
What is the potential risk or harm of Immune Augmentation Therapy?
The U.S. Center for Disease Control has received various reports of skin abscesses at the IAT injection site. There have also been claims made that some samples of the blood products used in IAT were contaminated with bacteria, hepatitis and HIV. Tiredness and muscle fatigue have been reported by the IAT clinic.
How much does Immune Augmentation Therapy cost?
Four weeks of therapy at the IAT clinic in the Bahamas costs $7,500. Each week thereafter up to eight weeks costs $700. Supplies for home maintenance run $50 per week. These fees do not include transportation to the Bahamas, lodging or meals.
For additional information:
Immune Augmentative Therapy Clinic
IAT (Bahamas) Ltd.
P.O. Box F-42689
Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Telephone: (242) 352-7455
Web site: http://immunemedicine.com/
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
Telephone: (800) 392-1611
Web site: www.mdanderson.org/departments/CIMER/
Note: Information about therapies is intended to help you make informed choices, not to endorse any particular therapy. The information is courtesy of "Integrating Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients," a handbook written as an independent study project by Heather Morein. For more information, see the full text of the handbook (PDF), including all references and appendices.