Revici's Guided Chemotherapy
Revici's Guided Chemotherapy is an ineffective cancer treatment devised by Emanuel Revici (1896–1997), a physician from Romania.[1][2]
Revici's early work on experimental chemical-based treatments for cancer between 1920–1941 attracted a degree of support. However, his work increasingly found disfavor with the scientific and medical communities, and his medical license was revoked in 1993.[1]
Revici's Guided Chemotherapy is based on the idea that all illness is caused by an "imbalance" of metabolism.[3] People with cancer were divided into two groups, which he called catabolic and anabolic, based on the pH of their urine and similar tests that were unrelated to the type or location of the cancer.[3] The people in his two groups were given different treatments. The treatment was to give a mixture of chemical substances (such as glycerol, n-butyl alcohol, and sulfurated vegetable oil[3]) by mouth or injection.
A Clinical Appraisal Group was organized in January 1963 to evaluate Revici's cancer treatment. The group found that the treatment had no effect on tumors, that two-thirds of his cancer patients died during treatment, and that overall 85% of them died.[3] The group concluded that the treatment has no value.[2]
The American Cancer Society notes that Revici's Guided "chemotherapy" is different from modern conventional chemotherapy, and states: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Revici's guided chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease. It may also cause potentially serious side effects."[4]
See also
- List of unproven and disproven cancer treatments
- Humorism – ancient Greek idea that illness is caused by imbalance in the body instead of germs
References
- ^ a b Cohen, MA (1998). "Emanuel Revici, M.D.: Innovator in nontoxic cancer chemotherapy 1896-1997". Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 4 (2): 140–145. doi:10.1089/acm.1998.4.137. PMID 9628204.
- ^ a b Lyall, David (1965). "Treatment of Cancer by the Method of Revici". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 194 (3): 279–280. doi:10.1001/jama.1965.03090160057014. PMID 5897344.
- ^ a b c d Vickers, A. (2004). "Alternative Cancer Cures: "Unproven" or "Disproven"?". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 54 (2): 110–118. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.521.2180. doi:10.3322/canjclin.54.2.110. PMID 15061600. S2CID 35124492.
- ^ "Complementary and Alternative Medicine". American Cancer Society. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
Further reading
- American Cancer Society (1 March 1989). "Unproven methods of cancer management: Revici Method". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 39 (2): 119–122. doi:10.3322/canjclin.39.2.119. PMID 2495156.
- Revici, Emanuel (1961). "Research In Physiopathology As Basis Of Guided Chemotherapy With Special Application To Cancer"