Can a vitamin transform natural killer cells into a cancer therapy? Scientists think the answer is yes (Nicotinamide + treatment = 58% with complete remission in advanced cancer in 28 days)

Medical Xpress / Science Translational Medicine ^ | Sept. 16, 2023 | Delthia Ricks / Frank Cichocki et al

[ConservativeMind]

Cancer patients appeared to benefit from natural killer cells obtained from donors in an experimental method of treating cancer that involved an aggressive army endowed with the ability to home in on malignant cells and destroy them.

The natural killer cells were pre-treated with nicotinamide, a compound widely known to most people as niacin, or vitamin B3. It's a substance with a special affinity for natural killer cells.

The innovative approach boosted the impact of natural killer cells and brought about remissions in patients with otherwise recalcitrant cancers.

"We conducted a first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial testing adoptive transfer of natural killer cells expanded ex vivo with IL-15 and nicotinamide combined with monoclonal antibodies in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma," Cichocki asserted.

Cichocki and collaborators found that nicotinamide not only enhances the activity of natural killer cells but boosts their persistence in the blood and bolsters the capability of these cells not only to hunt down cancer cells, but to handily destroy them.

The combination of nicotinamide-enhanced natural killer cells and monoclonal antibody treatment was safe in 30 patients, including 20 with relapsed or difficult-to-treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Among 19 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 11 demonstrated a complete response and three had a partial response within 28 days of treatment. Nicotinamide appears to protect the natural killer cells from oxidative stress, while enhancing their ability to home in on lymph nodes.

In cancers, FOXO1 acts as a suppressor of malignant cells.

"Nicotinamide promoted the stability of FOXO1 by preventing proteasomal degradation," Cichocki added. "Natural killer cells cultured with nicotinamide exhibited metabolic changes associated with elevated glucose flux and protection against oxidative stress."

Natural killer cells treated with nicotinamide in the lab also demonstrated an increased ability to generate an inflammatory and toxic response against cancer cells.

[ConservativeMind]

Nicotinamide is a common B vitamin. It enhanced the above therapy so much, that complete remission was found in only 28 days for 58% of patients.

It appears to help both advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma and advanced multiple myeloma.

As it seems to benefit natural killer cells by keeping them from becoming exhausted, it likely works against many more cancers relying on similar therapies.

[ConservativeMind]

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[AAABEST]

I take both forms of B3 - niacin and niacinimide. Not every day bit frequently.

Of note, B3 is the one b vitamin you can take too much of. It would need to be large doses, but overdose is possible none the less.

[Larry - Moe and Curly]

Niacin Ping to numberonepal.

[ryderann]

“Of note, B3 is the one b vitamin you can take too much of.”

Yes, be careful with this. I took two 500mg. capsules (as recommended) and my blood pressure dropped almost to the point of my passing out.

[Honorary Serb]

New!

[Irish Eyes]

bookmark

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Something about this reminds me of the story Carcinoma Angels, written by Norman Spinrad.

[logi_cal869]

Med Express is not high on my list of sites to use as reference, but I appreciate that you posted this.

Truly. Thanks!

[hdbc]

Later.

[tired&retired]

https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scitranslmed.ade3341#:~:text=Nicotinamide%20enhances%20natural%20killer%20cell,Hodgkin%20lymphoma%20%7C%20Science%20Translational%20Medicine

Nicotinamide enhances natural killer cell function and yields remissions in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

[roving]

And never to be heard of again. Just like all the other ones.

[grey_whiskers]

I remember that story from my childhood!

And every time I looked for it, I was confounded by the protagonist’s first name...and kept finding Harrison *Bergeron*.

If only I had thought to search for the last line...

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thanks C.M.! Forwarded to Mrs.Pete to forward to friend in Iowa who suffers from lymphoma!

[ckilmer]

I have found that 1 gram each of Extended Release Niacin and one gram of niacinamide plus a gram of TMG—morning and evening really sharpens me up.

[numberonepal]

Thanks for the ping Larry - Moe and Curly.

I would shy away from nicotinamide and niacinamide all together. All you need is nicotinic acid. The other two are fake. Nicotinic acid comes directly from tobacco plants. The “amides” were created top mitigate the flush. There are natural ways to mitigate the flush like pistachios and tart cherry concentrate for the melatonin content. My data shows the natural sources are 300x more bio-available than the synthesized melatonin. Anyway, just embrace the flush. Once you get a good saturation from therapeutic niacin doses, the flush is minimal and often times pleasant.

[numberonepal]

Med Express is not high on my list of sites to use as reference, but I appreciate that you posted this.

You are wise. Niacinamide and nicotinamide are fake niacin. They were created for flush mitigation and extended release. The best route (and I believe better and much safer benefits) is plain ole nicotinic acid extracted from tobacco. One must learn to embrace the flush and use it as a gauge to evaluate one's niacin deficiency. I know of no other supplement that comes close to long term inflammation relief than niacin.

[kelly4c]

Bkmk

[null and void]

ping

[ProjectArcturus]

I will have to look into this.