What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to identify studies investigating the effect of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies on survival in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioma.
What They Found
The review identified 18 papers and 4 abstracts covering various CAMs, including ketogenic diet (4), hyperbaric oxygen (4), and cannabinoids (2). Ketogenic diets, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and cannabinoids appeared safe and well tolerated, showing preliminary evidence of tumor response and increased progression-free and overall survival when combined with standard care. Conversely, carbogen breathing and hypocupremia had no effect on survival and were associated with significant toxicity.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with glioma considering CAMs should be aware that some, like ketogenic diets and cannabinoids, show preliminary promise and safety when used with standard treatments. However, other CAMs, such as carbogen breathing, were found to be ineffective and potentially toxic, highlighting the importance of discussing all CAM use with their healthcare providers.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no specific Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The review was limited by the preliminary nature and varying levels of evidence (I-IV) of the included studies, indicating a need for more robust research on many CAM modalities.