Copper Chelation

I have been looking into Copper and its know mutagenic properties. Several studies have linked cancer with high Copper levels. Research also shows that the copper transport plays a role in MDR, multi drug resistant cancers and can lower the efficacy of chemotherapy. The cellular ATP7A and ATP7B related drug transport system is thought to play a role in chemo sensitivity. It has been shown that patients with high Copper levels are more resistant to Chemotherapy.

It has also been shown that many cancer patients have high copper levels compared to people with no cancer. With high Copper, you can also expect low Zinc levels as Copper displaces Zinc.

One question that I have not been able to find an answer to is, “Why do cancer patients tend to have high Copper levels?”. Is it a symptom of the disease, or does cancer arise more often in individuals with high Copper levels? (If anyone knows the answer please post a comment).

With all the above in mind, it was time to test my Copper and Zinc levels. It came as no great surprise to discover that I had Copper levels well above the normal range, and Zinc levels below normal.

There is research and some clinical trials running to investigate Copper Chelation as a cancer treatment. The theory is that low Copper levels retard the growth of cancer, and at the same time make chemotherapy more effective.

The most common agent used for copper chelation is tetrathiomolybdate. I have this on order and will start with Copper chelation as soon as it arrives. Chelation agents will bind to heavy metals like Copper, and remove it from the body. Care should be taken, as Copper is an essential element. You want to achieve low copper levels, but not too low. Zinc should also be monitored as too much zinc can be toxic as well.

A cheaper alternative to tetrathiomolybdate is N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC). This is available in most health stores. NAC is however less effective and takes longer compared to tetrathiomolybdate.

My next step is to get other family members tested for Copper. If they also show high Copper levels, the first thing I will do, is get my old Copper plumbing replaced. I have also stopped taking a multivitamin as it contains Copper.