{"id":13333,"date":"2026-04-01T11:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T11:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/?p=13333"},"modified":"2026-05-31T17:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T17:42:21","slug":"understanding-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Was_ist_Krebs\" >What is cancer?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Mutationen_im_Erbgut\" >Mutations in the genetic material<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Ursachen_fur_diese_Schaden\" >Causes of this damage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Warum_Krebs_sich_verhalt_wie_Du_und_ich\" >Why Cancer Behaves Like You and Me<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Naturliche_Selektion_im_Kleinen\" >Natural Selection in Miniature<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Metastasierung_%E2%80%93_Krebs_auf_Reisen\" >Metastasis \u2013 Cancer on the Move<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Wie_Metastasierung_entsteht\" >How metastasis develops<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Wann_und_warum_beginnt_die_Metastasierung\" >Metastasis begins when cancer cells detach from the primary tumor, invade surrounding tissues, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and then establish new tumors in distant parts of the body. This process can occur at various stages of cancer development, often when the tumor has grown large enough or has acquired the necessary genetic mutations to facilitate invasion and spread.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Chemotherapie_%E2%80%93_Fluch_und_Segen\" >Chemotherapy \u2013 Curse and Blessing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Wie_funktioniert_klassische_Chemotherapie\" >How does classical chemotherapy work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Das_Problem_der_Selektion\" >The Problem of Selection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Fasten_als_biologischer_Verstarker\" >Fasting as a biological enhancer<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Das_Prinzip_%E2%80%93_Differential_Stress_Resistance\" >The Principle - Differential Stress Resistance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Was_passiert_nach_dem_Fasten_%E2%80%93_wenn_gesunde_Zellen_%E2%80%9Eaufwachen%E2%80%9C\" >What happens after fasting \u2013 when healthy cells \u201ewake up\u201c?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Adaptive_Therapie_%E2%80%93_Paradigmenwechsel\" >Adaptive Therapy \u2013 Paradigm Shift<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Den_Feind_nicht_ausrotten_sondern_beherrschen\" >Not to exterminate the enemy, but to rule them.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Der_evolutionare_Doppelbind_%E2%80%93_Forschung_2026\" >The Evolutionary Double Bind \u2013 Research 2026<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Metronomische_Chemotherapie\" >Metronomic chemotherapy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Welche_Kliniken_bieten_metronomische_Chemo_an\" >Which clinics offer metronomic chemotherapy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Schlafende_Metastasen_%E2%80%93_wecken_und_eliminieren\" >Sleeping metastases \u2013 awaken and eliminate<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Was_halt_sie_im_Schlaf_%E2%80%93_was_weckt_sie_auf\" >What keeps her in her sleep \u2013 what wakes her up?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Apoptose_in_schlafenden_Zellen_auslosen\" >Trigger apoptosis in sleeping cells<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#BCL-2BAX-Gleichgewicht_%E2%80%93_mitochondrialer_Todesschalter\" >BCL-2\/BAX Balance \u2013 Mitochondrial Death Switch<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#TRAIL-Weg_%E2%80%93_der_externe_Todesruf\" >TRAIL-Way \u2013 the external death knell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Autophagie-Hemmung_%E2%80%93_dem_Schlafer_den_Strom_abdrehen\" >Autophagy Inhibition - Turning Off the Power to the Sleeper<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Heilpilze_und_Naturstoffe_als_adjuvante_Wirkstoffe\" >Medicinal mushrooms and natural substances as adjuvant active ingredients<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Huaier_Trametes_robiniophila_Murr\" >Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Reishi_Ganoderma_lucidum\" >Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Weitere_adjuvante_Naturstoffe_im_Uberblick\" >Overview of Further Adjuvant Natural Products<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Intelligente_Gesamtstrategie_statt_Angriff\" >Intelligent overall strategy instead of attack<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/#Praktischer_Rahmen_%E2%80%93_was_ist_adjuvant_sinnvoll\" >Practical framework \u2013 what makes sense as an adjuvant?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 11<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding cancer is the foundation for effective, low-side-effect, and comprehensive holistic therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When mechanisms are conceptually understood and tumor-specific facts are known, targeted therapies can be developed that take all aspects into account, from origin and metastasis to new therapeutic approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone affected and \u2013 additionally \u2013 seeking professional advice can at any time receive individual <a href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/consulting-service\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/beratungs-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consulting and\/or research requests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Audio version <\/strong>\u2013 Duration 23:44<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Krebs_verstehen_BL.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Was_ist_Krebs\"><\/span>What is cancer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every cell in the body follows a precise set of rules: it grows, divides, takes on its task, and finally dies in an orderly fashion to make way for new, healthy cells. This regulatory mechanism functions smoothly billions of times daily.<br>If a cell doesn't follow these rules, cancer arises at that exact moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mutationen_im_Erbgut\"><\/span>Mutations in the genetic material<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of our body cells carries the complete blueprint of life in its nucleus, DNA. <em>deoxyribonucleic acid<\/em>).<br>Damage to this DNA is called a mutation. Most of the time, the cell recognizes such errors itself and repairs them, or if the repair mechanism fails, it triggers its own programmed cell death (<em>Apoptosis<\/em>This prevents degenerate cells from continuing to divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For cancer to develop <strong>two types of control genes<\/strong> fail at the same time<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Proto-oncogene <\/strong><br>are mutated into permanently activated growth engines, like a \u201egas pedal\u201c that gets stuck and can no longer be released.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tumor suppressor gene<\/strong><br>(e.g., p53, BRCA1\/2) normally represent the \u201ebrakes\u201c on cell growth: if they fail, there is no longer any control and the division process accelerates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ursachen_fur_diese_Schaden\"><\/span>Causes of this damage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Examples<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Affected cancer types<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chemicals<\/td><td>Tobacco smoke, asbestos, benzene, alcohol<\/td><td>Lung, Liver, Bladder, Throat<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>radiation<\/td><td>UV light, X-rays, radon<\/td><td>Skin cancer, leukemia<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Organic<\/td><td>HPV-Virus, Helicobacter pylori<\/td><td>Cervical cancer, stomach cancer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chronic inflammation<\/td><td>Crohn's disease, chronic colitis<\/td><td>Colon cancer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Genetic predisposition<\/td><td>BRCA1\/2 mutations, Lynch syndrome<\/td><td>Breast, ovarian, bowel cancer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sleeve<\/td><td>Accumulated mutations over decades<\/td><td>Almost all types of cancer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cancer is not a foreign invader like a bacterium or virus, but rather originates from one's own cells.<br>The challenges: The immune system must learn to distinguish between a \u201ehealthy\u201c self and a \u201ediseased\u201c self, and therapies must target tumor cells without destroying healthy cells.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Warum_Krebs_sich_verhalt_wie_Du_und_ich\"><\/span>Why Cancer Behaves Like You and Me<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the most fascinating\u2014and terrifying\u2014aspects of cancer biology. Although cancer cells have no will, consciousness, or intention, they are always intent on surviving and spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Naturliche_Selektion_im_Kleinen\"><\/span>Natural Selection in Miniature<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Charles Darwin<\/em> described how individuals that are best adapted to their environment can survive and reproduce in nature.<br>Tumor cells do the same: they mutate randomly, and occasionally a mutation arises that gives the cell a survival advantage by allowing it to divide faster, evade the immune system, and even survive despite oxygen deprivation. This cell dominates and passes its characteristics on to all daughter cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The evolutionary biologist <em>Athena Aktipis<\/em> describes cancer aptly as <em>\u201eold code that becomes active again\u201c<\/em>Survival strategies that were useful in the unicellular original state of life return in a multicellular organism, where they are harmful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normal cell behavior is based on cooperation. Each cell refrains from unchecked growth for the good of the whole organism and adheres to the rules.<br>But the cancer cell reverts to a primal state: grow, divide, survive \u2013 no matter the cost.<br>You don't fight a mistake, but against the fundamental logic of life itself.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Metastasierung_%E2%80%93_Krebs_auf_Reisen\"><\/span>Metastasis \u2013 Cancer on the Move<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary tumor, meaning the original cancer at its site of origin, is usually not the actual problem. Over 90 percent of all cancer-related deaths are not due to the primary tumor, but to its spread to other organs: metastases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wie_Metastasierung_entsteht\"><\/span>How metastasis develops<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Local Invasion<\/strong><br>Tumor cells produce enzymes<em>Matrix metalloproteinases<\/em>) which dissolve the surrounding tissue like a solvent and break out of their original matrix.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Entry into the blood<\/strong><br>Tumor cells invade blood or lymphatic vessels and circulate as so-called CTCs<em>Circulating Tumor Cells<\/em>in the bloodstream.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Survival in the bloodstream<\/strong><br>Most tumor cells die there, but the most resilient survive...<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Settlement<\/strong><br>Surviving cells leave the bloodstream again, invade a foreign organ, and begin to grow, often after years of waiting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wann_und_warum_beginnt_die_Metastasierung\"><\/span>Metastasis begins when cancer cells detach from the primary tumor, invade surrounding tissues, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and then establish new tumors in distant parts of the body. This process can occur at various stages of cancer development, often when the tumor has grown large enough or has acquired the necessary genetic mutations to facilitate invasion and spread.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Metastasis is not a random process, but is triggered by stress. When the tumor comes under pressure, it sends out \u201escouts\u201c (it fears dying and wants to stay alive), which is why it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Oxygen deficiency (hypoxia)<\/strong><br>grows faster than its blood supply, which is why cells that don't get enough oxygen activate escape programs and migrate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Immune assault<\/strong><br>evades the attacking immune system and allows cells to seek refuge elsewhere. Those that survive are the most resistant and therefore even harder to attack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nutrient deficiency<\/strong><br>seeks out \u201ebetter\u201c niches in the body to escape the lack of nutrients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Therapy stress<\/strong><br>rapidly triggers metastatic outbreaks when it is in existential distress due to aggressive chemotherapy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tumor cells behave like an organism under pressure: the stronger the attack (e.g., chemo, immune system, nutrient deprivation), the stronger the impulse for survival-essential spread (metastasis).<br>This explains why the type and intensity of therapy are crucial.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chemotherapie_%E2%80%93_Fluch_und_Segen\"><\/span>Chemotherapy \u2013 Curse and Blessing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chemotherapy has been the most powerful tool in cancer medicine for decades. It saves lives, but it also has a biologically explainable Achilles' heel that remained underestimated in classical oncology for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wie_funktioniert_klassische_Chemotherapie\"><\/span>How does classical chemotherapy work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chemotherapeutic drugs target a specific characteristic that distinguishes tumor cells from healthy cells: they divide uncontrollably and rapidly. <br>Chemotherapy agents preferentially kill rapidly dividing cells.<br>However, many healthy cells in the body also divide rapidly, such as in bone marrow, intestinal lining, hair follicles, and immune cells, which is the cause of well-known chemo side effects, such as hair loss, nausea, and immunodeficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Das_Problem_der_Selektion\"><\/span>The Problem of Selection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The critical biological flaw in the classical approach lies in its own logic: <strong>Maximum dose to kill as many tumor cells as possible.<\/strong> That sounds sensible, but it doesn't take into account the previously described evolutionary dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the tumor, there is always a small minority of cells that are naturally more resistant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High-dose chemo kills all sensitive cells; only the resistant ones survive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now competition is missing, which allows resistant cells to spread unimpeded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The next tumor consists almost entirely of resistant cells, making it harder to treat than ever.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers call this effect <strong>\u201eCompetitive Release\u201c<\/strong>The competition between sensitive and resistant cells, which is eliminated by therapy, leading to an advantage for the resistant cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For some cancers, such as testicular tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias, chemotherapy is curative.<br>The primary problem is its use in advanced solid tumors with maximum-dose protocols, as selection effects often outweigh the intended benefit here.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fasten_als_biologischer_Verstarker\"><\/span>Fasting as a biological enhancer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most surprising findings in recent cancer research: Short fasting periods of about 9 hours before and during chemotherapy can significantly increase the effectiveness of the treatment while protecting healthy cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Das_Prinzip_%E2%80%93_Differential_Stress_Resistance\"><\/span>The Principle - Differential Stress Resistance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It sounds contradictory at first. The researcher <em>Valter Longo<\/em> (University of Southern California) has described it in contrast as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Healthy cell during fasting<\/strong><br>\u2013 switches to standby mode<br>\u2013 cell division stops<br>activates repair programs<br>becomes less sensitive to chemotoxic agents<br>\u2013 recovers quickly after fasting<\/td><td><strong>Tumor cells during fasting<\/strong><br>can't stop growing<br>\u2013 remains active and willing to divide<br>\u2013 has no protection mode<br>\u2013 becomes even more vulnerable for chemo<br>\u2013 cannot compensate for fasting stress<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This asymmetrical effect is scientifically proven. In the randomized Phase 2 study DIRECT (de Groot, Longo et al., Nature Communications 2020) with 131 breast cancer patients, it was shown that:<br>An FMD (<em>Fasting-Mimicking Diet <\/em>\u2013 calorie-reduced plant-based diet), which puts the body into fasting mode, increased the probability of complete or extensive tumor destruction from 90-100% threefold to fourfold compared to a normal diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>source<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>de Groot Stefanie, et al. \u2013 06\/23\/2020 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-020-16138-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fasting-mimicking diet as an adjunct to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in the multicenter randomized phase 2 DIRECT trial<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finicle Brendan T. \u2013 10.2018 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30097614\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nutrient scavenging in cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Was_passiert_nach_dem_Fasten_%E2%80%93_wenn_gesunde_Zellen_%E2%80%9Eaufwachen%E2%80%9C\"><\/span>What happens after fasting \u2013 when healthy cells \u201ewake up\u201c?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Healthy cells wake up after nutrient intake, while tumor cells were damaged by chemotherapy and recover more slowly. During this time window, the body has its advantage and can reactivate its strengthened immune system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Immune rejuvenation<\/strong><br>Fasting induces autophagy, where cells break down old, dysfunctional immune cells. After reintroducing nutrition, new, fresh ones emerge. <em>T-cells<\/em> and <em>NK cells<\/em> (natural killer cells), which can react more aggressively to tumor cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Normalization of the environment<\/strong><br><em>IGF-1<\/em> (a growth hormone) and insulin levels decrease, both of which are conducive to inhibiting tumor growth because autophagy is promoted. After fasting, these values remain temporarily low.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No more stress signal<\/strong><br>Healthy cells no longer send out stress signals that could cause tumor cells to metastasize.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adaptive_Therapie_%E2%80%93_Paradigmenwechsel\"><\/span>Adaptive Therapy \u2013 Paradigm Shift<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Robert Gatenby<\/em>, Researchers at <em>Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa<\/em> (Florida), a heretical question arose: <em>What if the goal wasn't to destroy the tumor, but to control it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Den_Feind_nicht_ausrotten_sondern_beherrschen\"><\/span>Not to exterminate the enemy, but to rule them.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In classical strategy, one fights with maximum force until the tumor is defeated or resistant cells take over. <em>Gatenby<\/em> suggests something else: The tumor cells are granted the state of a stable, controlled tumor, in a manageable equilibrium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The logic behind it: Sensitive and resistant cancer cells compete for resources within the tumor. Sensitive cells are more numerous and fitter, as long as they are not eradicated (by high-dose chemotherapy pulses). If you pause a lower-dose chemotherapy treatment when the tumor shrinks, sensitive cells remain alive and keep the resistant ones in check. The tumor remains, but has no incentive to grow and is thus under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clinical Study Results \u2013 Moffitt Cancer Center<\/strong><br>In a pilot study (Nature Communications 2017 and eLife 2022 (NCT02415621)) with 17 patients with metastatic prostate cancer, <em>Abiraterone<\/em> (a hormone therapy drug) not given continuously, but only when the <em>Public Service Announcement<\/em>-value (a tumor marker) increased, paused when it sufficiently decreased.<br>After more than six years of observation, the convincing result:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Median Time to Progression<\/strong><br>33.5 months (vs. 14.3 months with standard therapy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cumulative drug dose<\/strong><br>um about 60% reduced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advantage<\/strong><br>Every patient in the control group benefited from the adaptive therapy according to the model.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jingsong Zhang, et al. \u2013 11\/28\/2017 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-017-01968-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Integrating evolutionary dynamics into treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jingsong Zhang, et al. \u2013 06\/28\/2022 \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/Evolution-based mathematical models significantly prolong response to abiraterone in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and identify strategies to further improve outcomes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Evolution-based mathematical models significantly prolong response to abiraterone in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and identify strategies to further improve outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gatenby Robert A., et al. \u2013 06\/01\/2009 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3728826\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adaptive therapy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moffitt H. Lee, et al. \u2013 04\/12\/2025 \u2013 <strong>running study<\/strong> - <a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT02415621\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adaptive Abiraterone Therapy for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moffitt H. Lee, et al. \u2013 02.23.2026 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moffitt.org\/newsroom\/news-releases\/moffitt-researchers-help-demonstrate-new-strategy-to-overcome--treatment-resistance-in-prostate-cancer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moffitt Researchers Help Demonstrate New Strategy to Overcome Treatment Resistance in Prostate Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Der_evolutionare_Doppelbind_%E2%80%93_Forschung_2026\"><\/span>The Evolutionary Double Bind \u2013 Research 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another groundbreaking discovery from Moffitt Cancer Center from February 2026<br>When cancer cells develop resistance to radiation therapy, they change their surface. This makes them vulnerable to natural killer cells (<em>NK<\/em>) is highly vulnerable to the immune system. Resistance to one therapy makes it vulnerable to another. This strategy is called an \u201eevolutionary double bind.\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Metronomische_Chemotherapie\"><\/span>Metronomic chemotherapy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another alternative to the maximum dose approach: low-dose, continuous chemotherapy, the so-called. <em>metronomic chemotherapy<\/em>.<br>Instead of high doses at long intervals (which grant the tumor regeneration breaks), a drug is administered permanently in small amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mode of action is different here: the tumor cells themselves are not primarily attacked, but rather the blood vessels that supply the tumor.<br>These endothelial cells are genetically more stable than tumor cells, as they develop hardly any resistance. At the same time, metronomic chemo activates the immune system, instead of damaging and suppressing it like high-dose chemo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>High-dose chemotherapy (MTD)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Metronomic chemo<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>dose<\/td><td>Maximum tolerable<\/td><td>1\/10 to 1\/3 of the MTD<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rhythm<\/td><td>Every 2\u20134 weeks, then a break<\/td><td>Daily or several times a week<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main goal<\/td><td>Tumor cells directly<\/td><td>Tumor blood vessels + immunomodulation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Resistance risk<\/td><td>High (Selection)<\/td><td>Significantly lower<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Side effects<\/td><td>Heavy to severe<\/td><td>Mostly mild<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Metastasis risk<\/td><td>Can be elevated<\/td><td>In studies, reduced<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>source<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kareva Irina, et al. \u2013 03\/28\/2016 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4666022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metronomic chemotherapy: an attractive alternative to maximum tolerated dose therapy that can activate anti-tumor immunity and minimize therapeutic resistance<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vives Marta, e.a. \u2013 05\/07\/2013 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/ijc.28259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metronomic chemotherapy following the maximum tolerated dose is an effective anti-tumor therapy affecting angiogenesis, tumor dissemination, and cancer stem cells.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Welche_Kliniken_bieten_metronomische_Chemo_an\"><\/span>Which clinics offer metronomic chemotherapy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following are exclusively non-private clinics. The reason:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>All German hospitals with statutory health insurance accreditation are legally obliged to publish annual quality reports.<\/strong>, whose statements are more reliable in case of doubt than marketing statements on the websites of private practices or clinics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In these public reports, objective data can be found on&nbsp;<strong>Treatment frequency<\/strong>&nbsp;(Number of cases per year) and <strong>interdisciplinary collaboration<\/strong>&nbsp;determine crucial indicators of a clinic's expertise. Additionally, for those with public health insurance, access to&nbsp;<strong>modern therapy standards<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>scientific studies<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>specialized outpatient clinics<\/strong>&nbsp;in these facilities directly and without additional cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UKE Hamburg \u2013 University Cancer Center (UCCH)<br>II. Medical Clinic \u2013 East Building 43, Ground Floor or O24<br>Martinistra\u00dfe 52 \u2013 20246 Hamburg<br>+49 (0) 40 7410-52960<br><a href=\"mailto:a.darimont@uke.de\">a.darimont@uke.de<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>St. Georg Clinic<br>Rosenheimer Stra\u00dfe 6-8 \u2013 83043 Bad Aibling<br>+49 (0) 80 61-398-0<br><a href=\"mailto:info@clinicum-stgeorg.de\">info@clinicum-stgeorg.de<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University Hospital Regensburg (UKR)<br>Franz-Josef-Strau\u00df-Allee 11 \u2013 93053 Regensburg<br>+49 (0) 941 944-00941 \/ +49 (0) 941 944-4488<br><a href=\"mailto:info@ukr.de\">info@ukr.de<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Schlafende_Metastasen_%E2%80%93_wecken_und_eliminieren\"><\/span>Sleeping metastases \u2013 awaken and eliminate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most dangerous and simultaneously fascinating phenomena in cancer biology: metastatic cells often migrate to distant organs years or decades before their clinical appearance and remain dormant there.<em>Tumor sleep or dormancy<\/em>barely share, slow down their metabolism, and thus make themselves invisible and unattainable for most therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This explains why some patients are considered \u201ecured\u201c but develop metastases ten years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Was_halt_sie_im_Schlaf_%E2%80%93_was_weckt_sie_auf\"><\/span>What keeps her in her sleep \u2013 what wakes her up?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>While sleeping, she<\/strong><br>an intact immune system<br>\u2013 an unfavorable microenvironment<br>  (the environment of a tumor cell)<br>\u2013 missing growth signal<br>\u2013 lack of blood supply &nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>They are awakened by<\/strong><br>\u2013 Immunosuppression (Stress, Age)<br>chronic inflammation<br>\u2013 surgical procedures<br>\u2013 some chemotherapies &nbsp;<br>  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apoptose_in_schlafenden_Zellen_auslosen\"><\/span>Trigger apoptosis in sleeping cells<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apoptosis, programmed cell death, functions perfectly in healthy cells. Cancer cells have learned to bypass this protective mechanism. It is particularly strongly blocked in dormant metastatic cells. Science now knows the exact molecular locks and is searching for keys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"BCL-2BAX-Gleichgewicht_%E2%80%93_mitochondrialer_Todesschalter\"><\/span>BCL-2\/BAX Balance \u2013 Mitochondrial Death Switch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every cell contains proteins that induce death<em>BAX \u2013 <em>Associated X, Apoptosis Regulator<\/em>, BAK<\/em> - <em>BCL2 Homologous Antagonist\/Killer<\/em>) and those who want to prevent it (<em>BCL-2 \u2013 <em>B-cell lymphoma 2<\/em>, BCL-xL<\/em> - <em>B-cell lymphoma-X large<\/em>).<br>In healthy cells, balance prevails. In cancer cells, especially dormant ones, survival proteins dominate.<em>BCL-2<\/em>clearly.<br>Active ingredients, which <em>BCL-2<\/em> inhibit, tilt this balance towards apoptosis. The drug <em>Venetoclax<\/em> is already clinically approved and works exactly like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"TRAIL-Weg_%E2%80%93_der_externe_Todesruf\"><\/span>TRAIL-Way \u2013 the external death knell<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The immune system can also instruct cancer cells to die from the outside, using the signaling molecule <em>TRAIL<\/em> (<em>Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand<\/em>), which binds to specific \u201edeath receptors\u201c on the cell surface, thereby triggering the apoptosis cascade.<br>Dormant cells often downregulate these receptors, but can be reactivated by so-called. <em>Sensitizer<\/em> they can be made accessible again by intervening in intracellular signaling pathways. Key classes of these sensitizers include signaling pathway inhibitors, potassium channel inhibitors, and Bcl-2 inhibitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Autophagie-Hemmung_%E2%80%93_dem_Schlafer_den_Strom_abdrehen\"><\/span>Autophagy Inhibition - Turning Off the Power to the Sleeper<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dormant cancer cells use autophagy, cellular self-digestion, as an energy source while in a resting state. Inhibiting this process causes them to lose their most important survival strategy and become susceptible to apoptosis. <em>Chloroquine<\/em> (a well-known antimalarial drug) is being investigated in combination with other therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>source<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bui Dhin Kahn, et al. \u2013 07\/31\/2025 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/bmrat.biomedpress.org\/index.php\/BMRAT\/article\/view\/994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cancer Cell Dormancy: An Update Through 2025<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pistritto Giuseppa, et al. \u2013 03\/27\/2016 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4925817\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apoptosis as an anticancer mechanism: function and dysfunction of its modulators and targeted therapeutic strategies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Xiaobing Tian, et al. \u2013 07\/15\/2024 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jci.org\/articles\/view\/179570\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Targetingapoptotic pathways for cancer therapy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heilpilze_und_Naturstoffe_als_adjuvante_Wirkstoffe\"><\/span>Medicinal mushrooms and natural substances as adjuvant active ingredients<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where Huaier mushroom and Reishi come into play, two traditional medicinal mushrooms that were long scoffed at in Western medicine but have now demonstrated well-documented molecular mechanisms of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Huaier_Trametes_robiniophila_Murr\"><\/span>Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Huaier is a sand-beige mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1,600 years. While the Chinese drug regulatory authority has approved it as a cancer medication, it holds the status of a dietary supplement in the EU. What's behind this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>BCL-2\/BAX axis<\/strong><br>Huaier extract lowers <em>BCL-2<\/em> (Survival signal) and increased <em>BAX<\/em> (Death signal), exactly the same mechanism that the drug <em>Venetoclax<\/em> uses. Additionally, <em>Caspase-3<\/em> activates the execution enzyme of cell death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>p53 activation<\/strong><br>Huaier activated <em>p53<\/em>, the most important tumor suppressor gene that initiates cell self-destruction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Immunomodulation<\/strong><br>Huaier increases <em>CD4+ T cells<\/em> Surface marker <em>CD-4<\/em>) and <em>NK cells<\/em>, both main weapons of the immune system against tumor cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anti-metastasis<\/strong><br>Huaier inhibits the enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases) that break down tissue, thus creating space for tumor cells to spread.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anti-angiogenesis<\/strong><br>Huaier inhibits the formation of new blood vessels towards the tumor, thereby weakening its lifeline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clinical Evidence for Huaier<\/strong>: <br>Systematic Review (2023, PubMed): Of 39 clinical studies with 12 different mushroom preparations, Huaier was the only preparation to show a clear survival advantage, in two liver cancer studies and one breast cancer study.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>source<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quian Cheng, et al. \u2013 11.2018 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/gut.bmj.com\/content\/67\/11\/2006.long\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Effect of Huaier granule on recurrence after curative resection of HCC: a multicentre, randomised clinical trial<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zhang, et al. \u2013 11.2010 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11159254\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Huaier aqueous extract inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Song Xiaojin, et al. \u2013 07.2015 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spandidos-publications.com\/or\/34\/1\/12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Anticancer Effect of Huaier (Review)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Narajanan Santhosshi - 03.30.2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11912-023-01408-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Medicinal Mushroom Supplements in Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reishi_Ganoderma_lucidum\"><\/span>Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reishi has been known in East Asia for millennia as the \u201emushroom of immortality.\u201c Recent research has identified its molecular fingerprint:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mitochondrial pathway<\/strong><br>How Huaier attacks Reishi <em>BCL-2\/BCL-xL-<\/em>Proteins and increases <em>BAX\/BCL-2<\/em>-ratio and promotes cell death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NF-\u03baB inhibition<\/strong><br><em>NF-\u03baB<\/em> is a central survival switch in tumor cells. Reishi effectively inhibits it, making tumor cells more susceptible to apoptosis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MMP-9 inhibition<\/strong><br>Reishi reduces <em>MMP-9<\/em>, an enzyme that tumor cells need for invasion and metastasis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Selectivity<\/strong><br>Reishi does not damage healthy cells (e.g., breast epithelium) in studies; only tumor cells showed reduced viability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>source<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mart\u00ednez-Montemayor et al. \u2013 10\/25\/2011 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3201987\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth and Expression of Key Molecules in Inflammatory Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jiahua Jiang, et al. \u2013 05.2004 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15067330\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells PC-3<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weitere_adjuvante_Naturstoffe_im_Uberblick\"><\/span>Overview of Further Adjuvant Natural Products<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Substance<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>source<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Mechanism of action<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Evidence<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Quercetin<\/td><td>Onions, capers, apples<\/td><td>Inhibit PI3K\/AKT, BCL-2\u2193, BAX\u2191, Caspase-3\u2191<\/td><td>Pre-clinically strong<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Curcumin<\/td><td>Turmeric<\/td><td>NF-\u03baB\u2193, mTOR\u2193, p53 activation<\/td><td>Well pre-clinical, bioavailability problematic<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>EGCG<\/td><td>Green tea<\/td><td>PI3K\/AKT\/mTOR\u2193, Apoptosis Induction<\/td><td>Preclinically proven<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Berbetin<\/td><td>Barberry plant<\/td><td>AMPK activation, mTOR\u2193, mitochondrial pathway<\/td><td>Growing clinical data<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Artemisin<\/td><td>Mugwort (TCM)<\/td><td>ROS induction, ferroptosis inducer, NF-\u03baB\u2193<\/td><td>Preclinically very active<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PSK (Polysaccharide-K)<\/td><td>Corilous mushroom<\/td><td>Immunomodulation, T-cell activation<\/td><td>Clinically proven (Adjuvant gastric cancer)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intelligente_Gesamtstrategie_statt_Angriff\"><\/span>Intelligent overall strategy instead of attack<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All the insights presented in this guide come together to paint a picture: The classic approach\u2014maximizing attacks on an evolutionarily adaptable adversary\u2014is often not the wisest strategy. The more modern perspective treats cancer as a dynamic system that must be intelligently managed if one wishes to overcome it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The new paradigm emerges from a fundamental shift in understanding. It challenges established norms and opens up novel possibilities. This transformation redefines our approach to complex systems and their interdependencies. Ultimately, it paves the way for innovative solutions and a more integrated perspective.<\/strong><br>1. Not destroy, but control<br>Adaptive therapy keeps sensitive tumor cells alive to keep resistant ones in check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Don't attack, but change the conditions<br>\u2013 FMD, metronomic therapy, and metabolic interventions alter the tumor microenvironment without triggering massive selection pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. The Immune System as the Mightiest Weapon<br>\u2013 Immunotherapy, immune rejuvenation through fasting, and NK cell activation by medicinal mushrooms are more effective in the long term than external chemotoxic agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. Do not awaken dormant metastases<br>\u2013 but to maintain the conditions that allow them to sleep:<br>a strong immune system, low inflammation, and IGF-1 levels.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Praktischer_Rahmen_%E2%80%93_was_ist_adjuvant_sinnvoll\"><\/span>Practical framework \u2013 what makes sense as an adjuvant?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All natural substances and dietary approaches described here are complementary measures. They do not replace medical treatment, but can be useful as supportive therapy when coordinated with the treating oncologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>FMD cycles<\/strong><br>(3-5 days of calorie reduction before chemotherapy) to protect healthy cells and increase tumor sensitivity<br>DIRECT study shows 3\u20134 times higher remission rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Huaier granules<\/strong><br>BCL-2 inhibition, immunomodulation, anti-metastasis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reishi extract<\/strong><br>BCL-2\/BCL-xL inhibition, NF-\u03baB blockade, selectively toxic to tumor cells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EGCG (Green Tea Extract) + Quercetin<\/strong><br>Synergistic effect on the PI3K\/AKT\/mTOR pathway<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ketogenic or Low-Glycemic Diet<\/strong><br>Permanently lowers IGF-1 and insulin, unfavorably altering the metabolic environment for tumor cells without triggering acute stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regular exercise<\/strong><br>Lowers IGF-1, reduces chronic inflammation, strengthens NK cell activity, one of the best-documented adjuvant effects ever.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide summarizes the state of research as of 2025\/2026. It is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. All therapeutic decisions should be discussed with a qualified oncologist, as should the aforementioned adjuvant measures, such as medicinal mushrooms, FMD, and dietary interventions, to avoid potential interactions with ongoing therapies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone affected and \u2013 additionally \u2013 seeking professional advice can at any time receive individual <a href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/consulting-service\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/beratungs-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consulting and\/or research requests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 11<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Krebs verstehen ist die Grundlage f\u00fcr eine wirksame und nebenwirkungsarme, ganzheitlich umfassende Therapie. Sind Mechanismen gedanklich erfasst und tumorspezifische Fakten bekannt, lassen sich gezielt Therapien entwickeln, die alle Sachverhalte, von der Entstehung \u00fcber die Metastasierung bis zu neuen Therapieans\u00e4tzen ber\u00fccksichtigen. Wer betroffen ist und &#8211; zus\u00e4tzlich &#8211; fachlichen Rat sucht, kann jederzeit eine individuelle Beratung&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/blog\/2026\/04\/01\/krebs-verstehen\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More \"<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Understanding Cancer<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1078],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medizin"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Achim Goerner","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13333"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14810,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13333\/revisions\/14810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csiag.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}