“This Kills Stage 4 Cancer Cells!” - How To STARVE & Prevent Colon Cancer! | Dr. William Li

Immunotherapy for Advanced Cancers [00:00]

• Immunotherapy can treat stage three and stage four cancer by activating the body's own immune system.
• It has the potential to transform stage four cancer into stage zero.
• For every 5 to 6 grams of dietary fiber, melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy saw a 30% reduction in mortality.

This section introduces immunotherapy as a powerful treatment that leverages the body's natural defenses to fight advanced cancers, offering a significant improvement in survival rates for some patients.

By getting your own immune system to wipe off cancer you're able to achieve something that we only dreamed of before which is to take the most natural process your own immune system raise those shields of that defense in order to be able to knock out the cancer.

Understanding Colon Cancer and Risk Factors [00:49]

• Colon cancer affects the lower part of the intestines and is common in both men and women.
• It is increasingly diagnosed in younger individuals, including those in their 30s, 20s, and even teenagers.
• The majority of cancers are linked to diet and lifestyle, with only a minority due to genetics.
• Early diagnosis in younger people suggests environmental factors, toxins, or dietary components might be involved.

This part defines colon cancer and highlights the alarming trend of its increasing prevalence in younger demographics, attributing this shift primarily to lifestyle and environmental influences.

We're beginning to ask the question, is it something in our environment? Is it a toxin we're exposed to? Is it water? Is it microplastics? Is it something in our food?

Dietary and Lifestyle Risks for Colon Cancer [02:24]

• Dietary risk factors include alcohol and processed meats, which are classified as carcinogens.
• Processed meats, such as hot dogs and salami, have high intake associated with the development of many cancers, especially colon cancer.
• Chemicals in processed meats, like nitrosamines and TMAOs, can create an inflammatory environment in the colon.
• Smoking, including vaping, significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer, with vaping potentially containing more harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes.
• A sedentary lifestyle contributes to an unhealthy gut microbiome, increased inflammation, and metabolic imbalances, raising cancer risk.

This section details specific dietary and lifestyle choices that elevate the risk of developing colon cancer, emphasizing the detrimental effects of processed foods, tobacco, and inactivity.

They have actually been classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization meaning that they are linked they are associated high intake is associated with the development of many cancers but especially colon cancer.

The Role of the Immune System and Angiogenesis in Cancer [03:57]

• Lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, sedentary behavior, and ultra-processed foods suppress the immune system, compromising the body's defense against cancer.
• The immune system acts as an army of "super soldiers" that patrol the body, identifying and eliminating microscopic cancer cells before they can grow.
• Cancers require a blood supply to grow; if blood vessels cannot reach a tumor, it can only grow to about 2-3 millimeters in diameter.
• Anti-angiogenic treatments, which cut off blood supply to tumors, are an important foundation for treating various cancers, including colorectal cancer.
• Without a blood supply, a tumor cannot grow; however, if blood vessels reach a microscopic cancer, it can grow exponentially (16,000 times in size in 2 weeks).

This segment explains how lifestyle choices impact the immune system and introduces the concept of angiogenesis, highlighting the critical role of blood supply in tumor growth and the therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic treatments.

Your immune system is literally an army of super soldiers that patrols your body at all times looking for trouble.

Immunotherapy Explained: Activating the Body's Defenses [05:25]

• Immunotherapy is a treatment that activates the patient's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.
• It works by activating one of the body's natural defenses, the immune system.
• The body has five health defense systems: stem cells, gut microbiome, DNA protection, and the immune system.
• The immune system functions like law enforcement, patrolling the body for abnormalities like microscopic cancers.
• The immune system naturally prevents cancer growth by spotting and eliminating abnormal cells before they can develop a blood supply.

This part clarifies what immunotherapy is, emphasizing its mechanism of empowering the patient's own immune system to fight cancer, and reiterates the immune system's role in naturally controlling early-stage cancers.

It's a treatment that actually activates your own immune system to go after the cancer.

Understanding Tumor Growth and Blood Supply [06:39]

• Tumors need blood vessels to grow and obtain oxygen and nutrients.
• Naturally, the body tries to prevent blood vessels from supplying tumors, limiting their growth to about 2-3 millimeters.
• Without a blood supply, tumors cannot grow.
• Medications like bevacizumab (Avastin) can cut off the blood supply to tumors and are approved for colorectal, brain, ovarian, cervical, and lung cancers.
• If blood vessels are allowed to reach and feed a tiny tumor, it can grow extremely rapidly, as seen in lab experiments where it increased 16,000 times in size in two weeks.

This section delves into the biological process of tumor growth, specifically focusing on the necessity of angiogenesis and how interrupting this process can be a key therapeutic strategy.

In the lab, there are research studies that have shown that if you if you prevent that blood vessel the tumor from ever getting a blood supply, it can't grow.

Immunotherapy as a Transformative Oncology Treatment [08:48]

• Immunotherapy "jacks up" the immune system, turning it into a powerful army to combat cancer cells.
• This approach is considered a transformative revolution in oncology.
• By utilizing the immune system, patients with stage three and even stage four cancer can potentially achieve remission (stage zero).
• While not effective for everyone, immunotherapy is showing dramatic responses in a subset of colon cancer patients who are likely to respond.
• Checkpoint inhibitors, such as Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), are a type of immunotherapy that "pulls the cloak off" cancer cells, making them visible to the immune system.

This segment elaborates on the power of immunotherapy, highlighting its revolutionary impact on cancer treatment and its potential to turn advanced-stage cancers into remission by significantly boosting the immune response.

So immunotherapy it is literally a transformative revolution in oncology in in the treatment of cancer.

Identifying Biomarkers for Immunotherapy Response [10:59]

• To determine eligibility for immunotherapy, tumor biopsies are analyzed for specific markers.
• Markers like microsatellite instability (MSI) indicate a tumor is highly unstable and more susceptible to immunotherapy.
• Targets such as PD-1 and PD-L1 are also assessed by pathologists from surgical specimens.
• Patients diagnosed with cancer, including colon cancer, should ask their doctor if their tumor has been tested for eligibility for immunotherapy.
• High levels of microsatellite instability (MSIH) and the presence of PD-1/PD-L1 markers suggest a tumor may be responsive to immunotherapy.

This part focuses on the diagnostic markers used to predict a patient's response to immunotherapy, emphasizing the importance of discussing these tests with one's oncologist.

So there's markers like microatellite instability. The tumor is very unstable. It's going to be more susceptible to imunotherapy.

The Gut Microbiome and Its Influence on Health [12:11]

• A healthy gut microbiome, with beneficial bacteria, lowers inflammation, improves metabolism, and positively affects mood through the gut-brain axis.
• A healthy gut microbiome is associated with a reduced risk of various diseases, including cancer.
• Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria, is suspected as a contributing factor to cancer that has been overlooked.
• Foods rich in polyphenols, such as colorful fruits, vegetables, berries, and greens, help promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
• Dietary fiber is particularly important; one study showed that for every 5-6 grams of fiber, melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy had a 30% reduction in mortality.

This section highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiome in overall health, its connection to inflammation and metabolism, and its potential link to cancer development, advocating for a diet that supports healthy gut bacteria.

Your gut microbiome, which can lower inflammation, has a way of fighting cancer.

Foods That Support Gut Health and Combat Cancer [13:42]

• Whole plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, herbs, and spices, are rich in polyphenols that nourish gut bacteria and activate the immune system.
• Reducing or eliminating processed meats, moderating alcohol intake, avoiding smoking, staying physically active, and managing stress are key lifestyle changes for lowering cancer risk.
• Coffee and tea, particularly green tea with its polyphenols (catechins), can cut off the blood supply to cancer.
• Coffee contains chlorogenic acid, which lowers inflammation and has cancer-starving properties.
• Brassica vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, arugula) contain isothiocyanates and sulforaphanes that can cut off tumor blood supply and reduce inflammation.

This part provides practical dietary recommendations, emphasizing specific foods and beverages that can enhance gut health, bolster the immune system, and possess cancer-fighting properties.

Tea. Green tea contains polyphenols called kakans that are powerful ways to cut off the blood supply to cancer.

Cancer-Fighting Foods and the Synergy of Food and Medicine [15:05]

• Beans, legumes (white, black, pinto, chickpeas, soybeans, edamame) are excellent sources of dietary fiber.
• Extra virgin olive oil contains polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol, which reduce inflammation and have cancer-starving properties.
• Seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, cod, halibut, shrimp, mussels, clams) are anti-angiogenic and lower inflammation.
• Combining dietary strategies with cutting-edge cancer therapies can improve treatment efficacy, emphasizing a "food and medicine" approach rather than "food versus medicine."
• Personalized medical treatments are vital, but patients' home-based dietary choices can significantly strengthen their body's defenses and amplify the effects of medical interventions.

This segment continues the discussion on cancer-fighting foods and emphasizes the synergistic relationship between diet and modern medicine, underscoring the importance of both in patient care.

That's not food versus medicine. That's food and medicine.

The Critical Role of Gut Bacteria in Immunotherapy Response [16:50]

• Immunotherapy, often administered as infusions of checkpoint inhibitors every three weeks, can be used alone or combined with chemotherapy.
• A major challenge in cancer research is understanding how to make immunotherapy effective for everyone.
• A healthy gut microbiome is essential for immunotherapy to work effectively.
• A 2017 study found that the presence of certain bacteria, specifically Akkermansia muciniphila, significantly differentiated responders from non-responders to immunotherapy.
• Patients with Akkermansia muciniphila tended to respond well to immunotherapy, while those without it did not, highlighting the bacteria's critical role.

This section delves into the practicalities of immunotherapy administration and addresses the significant finding that gut bacteria, particularly Akkermansia muciniphila, play a crucial role in determining a patient's response to these treatments.

It wasn't genetics, it wasn't lifestyle. It was a bacteria.

Growing Akkermansia muciniphila and Future Cancer Therapies [19:07]

• In lab experiments, transplanting human Akkermansia muciniphila into animals that were not responding to immunotherapy caused them to respond.
• Akkermansia muciniphila can be naturally grown by consuming foods containing ellagitannins, such as pomegranate, dried cranberries, and Concord grape juice.
• Other foods like oats, whole grain chili peppers, and Chinese black vinegar have also been shown to stimulate the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila.
• Future cancer treatment is anticipated to combine probiotic therapy and microbiome nurturing with immunotherapy, forming a powerful partnership.
• This integrated approach aims to enhance the body's natural healing and disease-fighting capabilities by synergizing the gut microbiome and the immune system.

This final part explores methods to cultivate beneficial gut bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila and forecasts the future of cancer treatment, which will likely involve a combination of microbiome support and immunotherapy.

Now we're understanding how to nurture the bacteria. Now we're going to have a probiotic to help it.

Patient Advocacy and Empowering Cancer Care [21:15]

• Cancer patients should actively advocate for themselves by asking their doctors about all available treatment options beyond surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
• Key questions include inquiring about cancer-starving, anti-angiogenic, or targeted treatments and whether the tumor has been analyzed for immunotherapy eligibility.
• Patients should inquire about their likelihood of responding to immunotherapy and if immune-boosting treatments are an option.
• Information on clinical trials for immunotherapy can be found on websites like clinicaltrials.gov.
• Patients can empower themselves by understanding that anti-inflammatory, whole plant-based foods can ramp up immune defenses and support the gut microbiome, thus tipping the odds in their favor.

This concluding section emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy in cancer care, encouraging individuals to have informed discussions with their doctors about advanced treatments like immunotherapy and to utilize dietary strategies to enhance their body's natural defenses.

It's up to you to advocate for yourself with your doctor to look for those right treatments, including imunotherapy.