GcMAF ( Gc protein-derived Macrophage Activating Factor or Globulin component activating macrophage factor) is a protein obtained by modifying a protein that binds vitamin D [1] .
“Clinical trials of GcMAF have not been properly conducted to date, and laboratory results require independent confirmation. All available statements about the effectiveness of this product have no scientific justification. The sale of this drug is not legal; in this regard, the quality of drugs purchased over the Internet and containing GcMAF, and their effect on human health is not guaranteed by anyone. ” - A public warning published by the Cancer Foundation [2] |
Biochemically, GcMAF is formed by sequential deglycosylation of a vitamin D-binding protein (Gc protein), which is naturally activated by lymphocytes (B and T cells) [3] . The resulting protein can serve as a macrophage activating factor (MAF) [3] . MAFs are mediators of cellular immunity that control the expression of antigens on the surface of macrophages, and one of their functions is to translate macrophages into a cytotoxic state with respect to tumors [4] .
False allegations of effectiveness in the treatment of cancer
Since approximately 2008, GcMAF has been positioned as a cure for cancer [5] , HIV [6] , autism [7] and other diseases [8] .
Three of the four original studies performed by Yamamoto (published from 2007 to 2009) were canceled by the scientific journals in which they were published in 2014, officially because of violations in the way ethical permits were granted [6] [9 ] ] [10] [11] . Reasons for recognizing the content of articles as false included methodological errors in research [12] [13] . As a result, the plausibility of the results of studies carried out by Nobuto Yamamoto and his colleagues, who originally predicted a cure for cancer and HIV, was called into question [5] [2] .
The UK regulatory authority for medical and health care [8] and the UK Cancer Research Society have warned the public about a false clinical improvement erroneously based on reduced levels of the alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase enzyme (also known as nagalase), which is produced in many cancers [5] .
In 2014, the Belgian Anti-Cancer Fund reported serious concerns about published studies on the GcMAF by Yamamoto and colleagues [2] .
In 2015, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) closed the GcMAF line for cancer treatment [14] .
In 2014, the Israeli company Efranat began clinical trials of GcMAF in people with various types of cancer in a hospital in Israel [15] . As of December 2017, Efranat received the FDA’s status of an orphan drug for a GcMAF drug for use in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis [16] , and also stated that a phase I drug test was conducted in Israel [17] .
Notes
- ↑ Galactosidases — Advances in Research and Application: 2013 Edition: ScholarlyBrief . - ScholarlyEditions, 2013-06-21. - 91 p. - ISBN 9781481688017 .
- ↑ 1 2 3 GCMAF unopened (unreachable link) . Anticancer Fund (July 24, 2014). Date of treatment July 26, 2014. Archived on August 8, 2014.
- ↑ 1 2 Malik, Suneil; Fu, Lei; Juras, David James; Karmali, Mohamed; Wong, Betty YL; Gozdzik, Agnes; Cole, David EC Common variants of the vitamin D binding protein gene and adverse health outcomes (English) // Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences : journal. - Vol. 50 , no. 1 . - P. 1-22 . - DOI : 10.3109 / 10408363.2012.750262 . - PMID 23427793 .
- ↑ Mosser, David M. The many faces of macrophage activation (Eng.) // Journal of Leukocyte Biology : journal. - 2003 .-- February ( vol. 73 , no. 2 ). - P. 209-212 . - DOI : 10.1189 / jlb.0602325 . - PMID 12554797 .
- ↑ 1 2 3 Arney, Kat 'Cancer cured for good?' - Gc-MAF and the miracle cure (revised 25 July 2014) . Cancer Research UK (December 3, 2008). Date of treatment February 10, 2015.
- ↑ 1 2 (Recalled) Yamamoto, Nobuto; Ushijima, Naofumi; Koga, Yoshihiko. Immunotherapy of HIV-infected patients with Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF) (Eng.) // Journal of Medical Virology : journal. - 2009 .-- January ( vol. 81 , no. 1 ). - P. 16-26 . - DOI : 10.1002 / jmv.21376 . - PMID 19031451 .
- ↑ Miller, Michael E. The mysterious death of a doctor who peddled autism 'cures' to thousands . Washington Post (July 16, 2015). Date accessed August 26, 2015.
- ↑ 1 2 Press Release: Regulator warns against GcMAF made in unlicensed facility in Cambridgeshire - GOV.UK. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (February 3, 2015).
- ↑ (Recalled) Yamamoto, Nobuto; Suyama, Hirofumi; Yamamoto, Nobuyuki; Ushijima, Naofumi. Immunotherapy of metastatic breast cancer patients with vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF) (Eng.) // International Journal of Cancer : journal. - 2008 .-- January 15 ( vol. 122 , no. 2 ). - P. 461-467 . - DOI : 10.1002 / ijc.23107 .
- ↑ Yamamoto, N .; Suyama, H .; Nakazato, H .; Yamamoto, N .; Koga, Y. Retraction Note to: Immunotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer with vitamin D-binding protein-derived macrophage-activating factor, GcMAF (Eng.) // Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy : journal. - 2014 .-- Vol. 63 , no. 12 . - P. 1349 . - DOI : 10.1007 / s00262-014-1616-x .
- ↑ Retraction (Eng.) // International Journal of Cancer : journal. - 2014 .-- 15 September ( vol. 135 , no. 6 ). - P. 1509 . - DOI : 10.1002 / ijc.29014 .
- ↑ Ivan Oransky. Paper about widely touted but unapproved "cure" for cancer, autism retracted . Retractionwatch (July 25, 2014).
- ↑ Tracking retractions as a window into the scientific process Yet another study of widely touted cancer "cure" retracted . Retraction Watch . Retraction Watch. Date of treatment July 28, 2015.
- ↑ UK's MHRA shuts down GcMAF plant (FDA News website)
- ↑ Cancer treatment developer Efranat raises $ 4.5 million , November 18, 2014 (Globes)
- ↑ Orphan Drug Designation - Modified vitamin D binding protein . FDA Date of treatment December 13, 2017.
- ↑ Vitamin D binding protein macrophage-activating factor . AdisInsight. Date of treatment September 7, 2017.