The iRGD Peptide

In most circumstances, when people learn of their cancer diagnosis, they become immediately stricken with grief and fear. These are normal reactions to learning this news. The word “Cancer” alone causes a natural emotional response followed by feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. This is because people connect it with death or having a “time limit” on life. However, cancer is not as black and white as it used to be. In 2021, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 1.9 million newly diagnosed cancer cases and 608,570 cancer deaths in the United States¹. Since every cancer case is different with each patient, it’s difficult to base all conclusions on statistics. Mortality is heavily based on various factors such as the type of cancer, the stage, the health of the patient, family history, etc. and these also determine the type of treatment that one may receive. At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we provide our cancer patients with alternative approaches to kill malignant cells, provide their body with nutrients, eliminate toxins, and enhance the immune system. We also recommend certain supplements to increase vitamin intake and peptides that inhibit tumor metastasis. This peptide is called iRGD.

What is the iRGD Peptide?

Made with nine amino acids, iRGD is a cancer targeting peptide that combines and delivers imaging agents into tumors, enhances the effects of anticancer drugs, and blocks tumor growth. The National Library of Medicine explains that this peptide follows a specific method in order to work successfully. The peptide generates the CRGDK fragment by connecting to the surface of tumor vessels that reveal αv integrins. This fragment further binds to a protein called neuropilin-1 to penetrate the malignant tumor².

The Effects of iRGD Peptide for Cancer Treatment

Many studies have shown that patients suffering from all types of cancers have made great strides on this peptide. Results from various cancer types are as follows:

Breast Cancer

Even with survival rates increasing, breast cancer still remains the leading cause of death among women. Treatment options for this cancer initially varied between chemotherapy and surgery, however the development of iRGD changed the hopes of many. The Journal of Oncology suggests that this peptide offers a strategy for breast cancer therapy with proven significant tumor growth suppression and an increase in immunogenic cell death³.

Lung Cancer

To this date, lung cancer is known to be the deadliest cancer due to its poor survival rates. Integrating iRGD with other forms of treatment has been studied in lung cancer patients over a period of time. Results eventually revealed that the injection of iRGD “increased tumor transduction, induced early adenovirus dissemination through the tumor and enhanced anticancer efficacy³.”

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the top leading causes of death among men. Distant metastasis to lymph nodes and other organs occur frequently and rapidly to those with the disease. Treatment with iRGD has proven to be three times more effective as compared to the singular use of chemotherapy drugs and seemed to have greatly slowed down metastasis.

Pancreatic Cancer

Another deadly cancer, statistics show that survival rates of pancreatic cancer are drastically low. However, out of all cancers, peptide iRGD seems to show the most positive results among pancreatic cancer patients. The Journal of Oncology explained that “the advent of iRGD peptide is good for pancreatic cancers because conjugated iRGD can be used directly due to the presence of α_Vβ integrin on the pancreatic cancer cell surface³.” Targeted therapies seemed to have tremendously benefitted pancreatic cancer patients in extending their lives while simultaneously being less invasive compared to chemotherapy.

Cancer Treatment at LifeWorks Wellness Center

Peptides are meant to provide certain amino acids that the body is lacking to hone in on certain bodily functions. At LifeWorks, we encourage cancer patients to take the iRGD peptide to enhance the effects of minimizing tumors and slowing the spread to other organs. We have successfully treated cancer patients from all over the world. If you or someone you know is suffering with cancer, and are interested in alternative forms of treatment, please call to schedule an appointment at 727-466-6789. To learn more about other cancer treatments that we offer, please visit our website at www.lifeworkswellnesscenter.com.

References:

1. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021 | American Cancer Society
2. iRGD: A Promising Peptide for Cancer Imaging and a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Cancers – PubMed (nih.gov)
3. iRGD: A Promising Peptide for Cancer Imaging and a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Cancers (hindawi.com)