Cancer might be expected to be more common amongst schizophrenics than the general population. They frequently live in
selenium deficient regions, have seriously compromised
antioxidant defense systems and chain-
smoke. The available literature on the
cancer-schizoprenia relationship in patients from England, Wales, Ireland, Denmark, USA and Japan, however, strongly suggests that the reverse is true. One of the authors (Hoffer) has treated 4000 schizophrenics since 1952. Only four of these patients has developed
cancer. Since low
cancer incidence has been recorded amongst patients treated by both conventional physicians using
pharmaceuticals and by orthomolecular doctors who emphasize
vitamins and minerals, it follows that this depressed
cancer incidence must be related to the biochemistry of the disorder itself. Taken as a whole, therefore, the evidence seems to suggest that schizophrenics, their siblings and parents are less susceptible to
cancer than the general population. These relationships seem compatible with one or more genetic risk factors for
schizophrenia that offer(s) a selective advantage against
cancer. There is experimental evidence that appears to support this possibility. Matrix
Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received a US patent covering the composition of IntraDose
Injectable Gel. This gel contains
cisplatin and
epinephrine (
adrenaline) and is designed to be injected directly into tumour masses.
Cisplatin is a very powerful
oxidant which will almost certainly rapidly convert the
adrenaline to
adrenochrome. While the manufacturers of IntraDose consider
cisplatin to be the active
cytotoxic agent in IntraDose, it seems more likely that
adrenochrome and its derivatives may, in fact, be more effective. IntraDose gel has undergone or is undergoing a series of Phase III open-label clinical studies, being injected into patients' tumours that have been identified as the most troublesome by their physicians. The results have been impressive for
breast cancer,
malignant melanoma,
esophageal cancer and
cancer of the head, neck and liver. The evidence suggests that there are balanced morphisms in
schizophrenia that result in above normal exposure to
catecholamine derivatives. Since such
catecholamines are both hallucinogenic and anticarcinogenic abnormally high exposure to them simultaneously increases susceptibility to
schizophrenia and reduces the probability of developing
cancer. These observations have significant implications for the treatment of both illnesses.