Opioid Growth Factor
Opioid growth factor is a substance naturally secreted by the human body that is known to suppress pain in the nervous system; it also controls production of certain cells in the body.
Currently, it is being used to slow down the proliferation of certain types of cancer cells, particularly those that start out as the particularly deadly cancer of the pancreas. Opioid growth factor can attach to the OGF receptors on pancreatic cells, including pancreatic cancer cells; once so bound, the cancer cell does not grow.
The human body does not produce enough opioid growth factor to impede all cancer cells in a developed case of pancreatic cancer. Researchers are studying ways to create synthetic opioid growth factor to inject in cancer sufferers to supplement the natural supply. Preliminary studies indicate that supplementing with natural opioid growth factor has no serious side effects normally expected with chemotherapy, and the patients receiving these supplements show overall improved quality of life, decreased pain, and significant improvement in survival.
Besides pancreatic cancers, opioid growth factor may be useful in treating several other cancers that have the OGF receptors, such as colon cancers, kidney cancer, and head and neck cancers.
Web Resources On Opioid Growth Factor
Opioid growth factor safe for treatment of pancreatic cancer
Opioid Growth Factor in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery
Book Resources On Opioid Growth FactorHematopoietic Growth Factors in Oncology by George Morstyn et al.
Neurotrophic Factors by Sandra E. Loughlin et al.
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