How Cancer Cells, Lymphocytes and the Immune System Work

Cancer cells, compared to healthy cells, are very specific. Their life span and function are very complex and still under investigation. However, it has been revealed that they can hide from the immune system for a long time, change its setting, and resist its efforts to eliminate them.

Nutrition and cancer cell functioning

The main nutrient of cancer cells is sugar – glucose. Its acquisition is faster and more aggressive than by healthy cells, therefore tumors grow more rapidly oppressing and depriving healthy cells and the body of nutrients. Cancer cells create own mechanisms of taking glucose from surrounding tissues to enable an adequate supply of nutrients necessary for their growth. They get energy from glucose supplied primarily via anaerobic glycolysis (breakdown of glucose with no oxygen), unlike healthy cells dependent on their energy supply from oxygen. The mechanism of energy production without any oxygen has possibly evolved due to a rapid tumor growth, which found it difficult to acquire oxygen from the blood supply. Energy production from glycolysis creates a waste product – lactic acid causing significantly higher acidity around the tumor.

Lactic acid as a by-product of glycolysis poses a problem to T-cells – cells of the immune system so that they cannot take action fully against the tumor. Moreover, lactic acid acts as an antioxidant and eliminates harmful free radicals leading to reduced effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy that produce free radicals in order to destroy the tumor. Cancer can thus hinder efforts to its destruction while limiting T-cell defence; the antioxidant action as well as a lack of oxygen around the tumor inhibits the effects of some medications. Additionally, cancer cells can influence their surroundings – they supply lactic acid to fibroblasts and in return receive a sensitivity-reducing substance to chemotherapy (i.e. chemoresistance). Using other agents such as cytokines, the tumor restrains the immune response, and via sustained inflammation it changes T-cells that start protecting their own tissue instead of attacking it.

Tumours and glutamine

Some types of tumors choose different nutrition for their growth – glutamine, a non-essential amino acid commonly consumed in red meat, legumes and dairy products. Athletes use its pure form to promote their muscle growth, or it can help cancer patients gain weight. Glutamine poses no risk to healthy people, but for cancer it is irreplaceable. In cancer patients, it literally feeds the tumor and hence inhibits the effect of treatment; therefore glutamine should be administered at a terminal stage of the disease when there is no chance for recovery. A breakdown of glutamine results in alkaline ammonia which neutralises the acidic cancer environment and thus aids its effectiveness.

Diet alteration in cancer treatments

Tumor “diet” and the products of its metabolism help each other. So it is important to block all potential sources of tumor nutrition during treatments and to inhibit glucose and glutamine metabolism by appropriate means – low-carbohydrate diet, avoiding foods high in glutamine, natural supplements – high quality green tea (Matcha and Sencha are known for their highest antioxidant content), resveratrol (antioxidant blocking glucose metabolism), vitamin C, beta-glucans, and especially healthy raw diet containing alkaline foods such as fruit, vegetables, high quality oils and fat that enhance immunity and bring relief. Other methods to bring relief and enhance the recovery process are fruit and vegetable juices, regular fasting, eating green foods (chlorella, barley grass, spirulina), aloe vera, goji, colloidal silver, regular outdoor exercise, spending time with loved ones and doing activities that bring joy.