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. Phosphorus regulated by heroin might be the key for preventing the development of cancer in human organism, in terms of keeping the phosphorus in normal levels in the blood. Cases of cancer patients after methadone detox treatment are reported. In the present study, in 200 cancer patients who underwent radical radiotherapy (RT), the phosphorus level is generally returning to normal levels three months postirradiation. Phosphorus and cancer seem to be significantly associated, with heroin adapting phosphorus in normal values. The pharmaceutical companies should look deep inside the molecule of heroin, by means of an analogue with the potential impact against cancer but without the addictive effect to humans. It's obvious that further research is needed to obtain reliable statistical data.