Whey protein and susceptibility to chemotherapy:
A specially prepared whey protein supplement, Immunocal, has been shown to increase glutathione (GSH) concentration in several body tissues but at the same time reduce glutathione (GSH) concentration in tumor cells and inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells. A study tested lymphocytes believed to match the high GSH concentration found in cancer cells. In a 6 month study, 5 patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast, 1 of the pancreas and 1 of the liver were administered 30 grams of Immunocal daily. In 6 patients GSH levels were high at the start of the study. In 2 patients, tumor regression, normalization of hemoglobin and peripheral lymphocyte counts and a sustained drop of lymphocyte GSH levels towards normal were reported. Another 2 patients showed signs of tumor stabilization and increased hemoglobin levels. In 3 patients there was disease progression with a trend toward higher GSH levels. These findings suggest that whey protein may reduce the concentration of GSH in tumor cells, possibly making the tumors more susceptible to chemotherapy. (8)