The internationally renowned oncologist supports the use of this old drug as an alternative in the treatment of cancer.
Several treatments can be offered in the management of cancer. They depend on criteria observed by clinicians such as the organ(s) affected, the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy or even targeted therapies may be favored, alone or in combination. “We are in a world where patients are caught between different logics. Standard treatments are sometimes less effective than we hope. Patients are looking for alternatives” explains Dr Laurent Schwartz, oncologist from Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP). It puts forward the idea of bringing up to date an old remedy used in medicine as a medicine against cancer. “I now have the impression that an alternative to often very violent treatments is becoming possible” he rejoices.
“You should know that the world of oncology is in the middle of a discussion about the very nature of cancer”clarifies Dr. Schwartz. “For some, it is a complex disease that warrants different treatments depending on the type of cancer. For me and many others, it is just a fermentation of glucose.” The treatment he puts forward would stop cancerous fermentation, thus preventing the tumor cell from dividing. The first use of the substance he praises dates from 1876. “The revolutions are not only about inventing expensive high-tech molecules, but also about finding what the ancients knew and bringing up to date treatments without major toxicity”shares the specialist.
“It’s infinitely less violent than many treatments”
It is in his book “Methylene Blue” published on October 23, 2024, that the oncologist discusses the use of this product. Originally, methylene blue was synthesized by the Germans to be a blue dye. It was quickly used to treat various pathologies; the majority of drugs synthesized between 1920 and 1960 were derived from methylene blue. “In France, it remains present today in all emergency trolleys and it is an excellent treatment for psychiatric illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer” continues the specialist. The drug is also used as an injection for acute illnesses such as septic shock, or in surgery to test the tightness of a suture.
It was in 1905 that a man named Abraham Jacobi published on a first series of patients treated for cancer using methylene blue. He claims that cancers can be stabilized by this molecule. Abraham Jacobi has notably published on cases of ovarian cancer, tongue cancer and uterine cancer. According to Dr. Schwartz, the advantage of methylene blue is that it has no major side effects. It is usually limited to bladder irritation and multiple spotting related to the patient urinating blue.
“This saves time. It is not a curative treatment but it is infinitely less violent than many modern treatments.” The specialist shared its effectiveness in case studies including metastatic uterine sarcoma, metastatic melanoma, prostate cancer, metastatic lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, glioblastoma, metastatic carcinoma of the tonsil or even a metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas. Methylene blue is an alternative to take in addition to usual treatments. “Cancer is a simple disease and treatment with methylene blue, chlorine dioxide and other molecules is a real possibility” he concludes.