Publications by authors named "Ryoko Narui"

This review article investigates the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer progression, emphasizing the metabolic shifts that promote tumor growth. Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy production, but they also play a significant role in cancer progression by promoting glycolysis even under oxygen-rich conditions, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. This metabolic reprogramming enables cancer cells to maintain an alkaline internal pH and an acidic external environment, which are critical for their proliferation and survival in hypoxic conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cancer treatment is a major area of focus due to rising cancer rates, especially for patients with advanced cancers who have limited options and poor outcomes.
  • Researchers are exploring methods like alkalization therapy, which increases the pH of the acidic tumor environment, potentially improving treatment effectiveness.
  • The review highlights case studies showing long-term survival in advanced cancer patients using alkalization therapy and natural products, suggesting these methods may enhance standard treatments but calls for more research to confirm these benefits.
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Article Synopsis
  • Current treatments for pancreatic cancer provide limited benefits, prompting research into alternative therapies like alkalization therapy.
  • A study at Karasuma Wada Clinic involved 98 patients with stage 4 pancreatic cancer receiving alkalization therapy alongside standard chemotherapy, measuring urine pH as a key indicator.
  • Findings showed that patients with higher urine pH levels had significantly longer median overall survival, suggesting alkalization therapy may improve outcomes for this patient population.
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Background: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, is difficult to prevent recurrence even when remission is achieved. In addition, even with the advent of drugs that are effective for the treatment of HCC, a satisfactory extension of patient survival has not been achieved. To overcome this situation, we hypothesized that the combination of alkalization therapy with standard treatments will improve the prognosis of HCC.

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One of the most unique characteristics of cancer metabolism is activated aerobic glycolysis, which is called the "Warburg effect", and is a hallmark of cancer. An acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) resulting from activated anaerobic glycolysis is associated with cancer progression, multi-drug resistance, and immune escape. Several and studies reported that neutralization of the acidic TME by alkalizing agents, such as bicarbonate, resulted in the suppression of cancer progression and a potential benefit for anti-cancer drug responses.

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Objectives Of The Study: Our research aims to answer the following questions. Can cancer progression be stopped by changing the body condition of person with cancer? Can cancer be cured?If cancer progression can be stopped, what is the underlying mechanism?

Theoretical Rationale For Alkalization Therapy: Almost 70 years ago, Goldblatt H. & Cameron G.

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The ethanol extract from the wood of Taxus Yunnanensis (TY) induced apoptosis in all cancer cell lines tested, which was mainly due to activation of an extrinsic pathway in human colon cancer DLD-1 cells. The extrinsic pathway was activated by the upregulation of the expression levels of Fas and TRAIL/DR5, which led to the activation of caspase-8. Of note, the machinery of this increase in expression was promoted by the upregulation of MIR32a expression, which silenced MIR34a-targeting E2F3 transcription factor.

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Background/aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the combination of alkalization therapy (an alkaline diet and bicarbonate therapy) and intravenous vitamin C treatment on chemotherapy outcomes in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (study registration: UMIN000043056).

Patients And Methods: Twelve patients with SCLC in the intervention group (receiving both alkalization therapy and vitamin C treatment together with chemotherapy) were retrospectively compared to 15 patients with SCLC in the control group (receiving chemotherapy only).

Results: The mean urine pH of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (7.

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Background/aim: Neutralization of the acidic tumor microenvironment, which is associated with both progression and drug resistance of cancer cells, may be a new treatment option for progressing forms of cancer. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the effects of alkalization therapy, consisting of an alkaline diet with supplementary oral sodium bicarbonate, in patients with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic cancer (study registration no.: UMIN000036126).

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Background/aim: The acidic tumor microenvironment is associated both with the progression and drug resistance of cancer. We aimed to investigate the effects of alkalization therapy performed concurrently with chemotherapy on the survival of advanced pancreatic cancer patients (study registration: UMIN 000035659).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic cancer were assessed in this study.

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Both Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and nephroblastoma are rare in children. We report herein the first case of a patient with both diseases concurrently. A 2-year-old female presented with bone pain and swelling of the right humerus.

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