Is Phosphorus the "Key" of cancer?

Bobko et al. reported a very interesting article concerning the impact of interstitial inorganic phosphate (Pi) on tumor progression. Previous studies have shown that blood levels of Pi might be related with either the presence or growth of cancer in the human body.

What is the connection between serum phosphorus, cancer and heroin? A medical hypothesis based on observational studies.

Considering the results of a previous study in which 2321 regular heroin addicts who died without having stopped taking the drug since they had started - from various causes but none from cancer, may mean something. Our first thought was: Can't we hypothesize, reinforcing our previous view that heroin is a "barrier" against cancer and as the user gets in the methadone program he/she lacks the "barrier" and therefore is liable to develop cancer? We have already reported that the amount of blood phosphorus in heroin addicted is significantly lower than in healthy ones. Additionally we have introduced the potential clinical impact of serum phosphorus as a screening test for cancer.

Hypothesis: Is heroin a 'barrier' against cancer? A retrospective analysis of heroin-addicted individuals untreated for opioid dependence between 2001-2010.

Purpose: The findings of previous studies attracted our interest in searching and defining the percentage of deaths from cancer in 'heroin regular addicts' i.e. those who had never stopped taking the drug since they started.

The Amount of Phosphorus in the Blood of Heroin Abusers Compared to that of Healthy Subjects.

Background: The aim of the current retrospective study was to assess any difference in terms of serum phosphate (P) between heroin addicts and healthy subjects.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2012, under the authority of the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), 30 regular heroin addicts, 22 males and 8 females (Group A) participated at the study. Between 2010 and 2011, 30 healthy individuals, 22 males and 8 females (Group B), presented on an outpatient basis for either fatigue or common flu symptoms without fever at the 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki.

Is there any potential clinical impact of serum phosphorus and magnesium in patients with lung cancer at first diagnosis? A multi-institutional study.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether the expression of baseline phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) levels were prognostic in terms of stage and overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients.

Materials And Methods: Retrospectively, 130 patients were selected at the time of diagnosis oflung cancer (100 with NSCLC and 30 with SCLC), before the initialization of any chemo-radiotherapy. The median age was 67 (range 29-92).