Abstract

MURILLO-DOMINGUEZ, Guillermo. Shark cartilage: another oncological panacea. Med. interna Méx. [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.4, pp.614-618. ISSN 0186-4866.  https://doi.org/10.24245/mim.v34i4.2041.

Cancer is the third cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. In the face of such a devastating epidemiological panorama, it is expected that a multitude of non-conventional, biological and non-biological “curative” therapies will emerge. Among the biological therapies is the shark cartilage, whose defenders of its use are based on the false premise that “sharks do not have cancer”, and when confronted, they claim conspiracy theories. Although the presence of an inhibitory factor of angiogenesis in the product has been demonstrated, clinical trials have not been conclusive as to a net beneficial effect in oncological patients. But the popular marketing of the substance is a business of several million dollars a year. It is prudent that doctors have knowledge, including possible side effects, to provide information to patients.

Keywords : Cancer; Biological therapies; Shark cartilage.

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