Bioflavonoid Quercetin has Anti-Cancer Effects
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: October 18th, 2018
Quercetin has been around for some time as it is a naturally occurring compound found in the peels of citrus, capers, certain herbs, onions, and grapes**. Quercetin is also found in the Chinese Scholar tree, one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Quercetin has some interesting and fairly potent anti cancer effects. First, it has anti inflammatory effects. We now know that cancer development and also cancer progression both rely on low grade inflammation in the body. Inflammation that is low grade may not be visible to the naked eye.
Our bodies and those of our loved dogs are constantly barraged by a host of microscopic, damaging substances daily. This creates inflammation. Excess fat in the body creates inflammation. A diet too rich in certain fats (omega 6 fatty acids) and lacking in others (omega 3 fatty acids) creates inflammation. Smoke, pesticides and herbicides, inhaled exhaust can all create this type of inflammation. Finally, cancers themselves created inflammation.
Quercetin is able to partially block the very same enzymes that are targeted when vets and oncologists use anti inflammatory medication as a part of metronomic chemotherapy. This kind of chemo is low dose, and may help to help lessen the blood flow that helps feed developing or spreading cancers.
This compound also has been shown to attack human breast cancer cells (in a test tube) in a way that is similar to some of the new dog cancer drugs, Palladia and Kinavet K-1 (masitinib).
An injected form was found to shrink sold tumors in mice. But what about taking it as a pill? This works too, but we need to protect it from being broken down so it gets in the bloodstream (this is the method used in Apocaps, and it was for these reasons that rutin, a rich source of quercetin, was included in the Apocaps formulation.).
So how can we use this interesting substance?
First, we need to be sure that we are not creating anti oxidants which could interfere with some chemo drugs and other helpful strategies (these are outlined in the Guide). If we use larger doses of quercetin, we can overcome this effect.
Secondly, we should think of quercetin for tumors of the stomach or intestine which will get the highest dose of a tablet taken by mouth. Quercetin does have other uses, but this is one easy one to remember.
And it has been shown to be safe. 🙂
All my best
Dr D
**Note that onions and grapes may create toxic reactions in dogs.
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Dr. Dressler, with respect to Apocaps, sometime back it was noted that it is necessary to work with your oncologist before using them if your pup is on an NSAID, because apocaps do exhibit some degree of NSAID side effects. My girl Osa has TCC of the bladder and has been on piroxicam for the past 10 months, and for that reason I have not used apocaps. I don’t feel that the piroxicam is helping, and am considering taking that out of her regimen and starting with the apocaps.
But her BUN count is pretty high, around 49. If I do take her off of piroxicam, should I wait a while before starting the apocaps, or are the NSAID-like side effects of apocaps “low grade” enough that I could start them right away after stopping piroxicam?
Thanks.
Dear Chris
if the urine is also dilute, we have kidney disease of some kind, possibly (but not necessarily) related to the TCC. See if the urine is dilute also so we know this is not just dehydration.
I don’t worry much about wash out with piroxicam. I would only wait about 2-3 days personally but do check with your vet. Also you might consider oral Neoplasene which I have been using along with Apocaps for some dogs and in the low number so far we are doing okay. But again make sure your vet is involved with this.
I hope this helps
Dr D
Dear Valerie,
I was sorry to read about Maya’s passing but encouraged that you were able to help her stay well for more years! If you still have the extra apocaps, we could sure use them!
Blessings, Judith
Dear Judith,
this post may help answer your question:
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/an-overview-of-what-else-can-i-do/
Best,
Dr D
Dear Dr. Dressler,
My almost 3 year old Tibetan Terrier appears to have lymphoma. We had a fine needle aspirate done today. Lymph nodes have been swollen for three months but they had him on doxcycline thinking that it may have been a tick-borne illness. The lymph nodes continued to grow and now they believe it could be lymphoma. His breathing is shallow and he drinks more water – otherwise he doesn’t exhibit any other signs of illness. The choices they have given us include weekly chemo for 6 months, chemo every three weeks for six months, and prednisone alone. We also have started him on the Johanna Budwig protocol – flax oil and cottage cheese blended together, raw foods. We are holistically oriented and believed initially that we wouldn’t do chemo, but the vet said he could still have good quality of life (if he tolerates it) and so now we are considering it more seriously. We are of course devastated. He is the heart of our home and our baby boy! Do you have any suggestions? We are ordering your book. Should we also try apocaps? Many many thanks, Judith
P.S. All of this surfaced after his rabies booster shot.
Dr. Dressler
Juanita Again. Sorry Emma & Tami is not sick. Would just like a good daily supplement. Our vet’s here don’t recomend anything spesific. Just want us to do the yearly boosters. Which you reccomend 3 yearly.
Thank You
Juanita
Dear Juanita
I would suggest every 3 year vaccine boosters after year one for parvo and distemper. This of course does not mean every 3 years you go to the vet! Still do the annual or semi annual visits to be sure your loved ones are healthy. The top daily supplement will be Everpup which will be available in about 6 weeks.
Best
Dr D
Good Day Doctor Dressler
Al the way from South Africa Cape Town,
Would just like to ask, I have two Jack Russell Doggies Emma 7 & Tami 4. Could I give them apotaps for a daily supplement??
Thank You So Much for doing such good work.
Greetings
Juanita
Could you please elaborate on what is considered a “larger dose” if I were to give it orally?
Thank you!
Elaine & Sunshade (18 months cancer survivor on Apocaps rotation with Artemisinin)
Dear Elaine,
no need for it while on Apocaps. The rutin takes care of the quercetin needs as rutin produces quercetin in the body… 🙂
Dr D
Dear Dr Dressler
My 8 yr old golden retriever has had a mast cell tumor removed and has a second one growing quite quickly from the size of a golf ball to a grapefruit in a matter of 4 weeks. she has been taking prednisone since her surgery. I would love to try Apocaps, but since pred. is an anti inflammatory, and my vet was not familiar with Apocaps, she was unsure how to proceed. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
under these circumstances I usually drop the pred (or the Apocaps) to half dose and give with a full meal and monitor for digestive upset.
I hope this helps
Dr D
Dear Dr. Dressler:
2 years ago our dog, Maya, was diagnosed with renal carcinoma. Her prognosis was poor – I was told she had about 6 months to live. I bought your first book and worked with it to develop an immediate and longer term response. We were included in your 2nd edition. She passed away last week. She was a 90+ lbs. German Shepherd and I do believe our response to her cancer gave her the opportunity to live a long, productive life. She was 11 1/2 when she died. Thank you for helping me.
Now, perhaps I can help a bit in return. I have one full and one partial bottle of Apocaps. I would be happy to send them on to someone who can use them.
Valerie
Thanks Valerie, I am very pleased you were able to extend her life with good quality and quadrupled estimated life span. Great work. As to your supplies, I might touch base with the other folks posting comments to send some. Look for the new posts and read the comments and I am sure someone will take you up on the offer.
All my best
Dr D
I have read that grape skins and quercetin which is the active agent in grape skin tht fights cancer is dangerous and in fact, toxic to dogs. Can you please respond to this. Thank you
Dear J. Dade,
A good question. the toxic agent in grapes is not yet known. The safety publication is linked in the bottom of the blog for your reference. Please cite your source and i would be happy to review the documentation and comment on it-
All my best
Dr D
Dear Dr. Dressler,
I found this article very infiormative. I have your book and I have been using Apocaps on my older dog with some success – but it stopped working.
Bonnie has a solid external tumor on the back of her thigh. It was diagnosed as malignant a year ago. We tried cryo-surgery (was done by Dr. Goldstein, Smith Ridge Veterinary Clinic), It was only partially successful as the tumor never died off completely. We had another cryo-surgery last November, which did even less. So I started Apocaps and the tumor started shirnking. When I stopped Apocaps, it started growing again. So now I make sure I always have a supply of Apocaps, but it suddenly stopped working and the tumor is growing again.
So my question is, would it be possible for my vet to obtain liposomal Quercetin and inject it into the tumor? Have you ever tried this? Any advice you could give would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Judith
P.S. I have just started adding K9-Immunity and K-9 Transfactor to her regimen. She was on CAS-Option before.
Hi Judith
sounds like you have a mutating tumor (almost always the case at some point…).
Hard to get what you are looking for. I might be looking at injectable neoplasene for this effect or perhaps insert matrix 3 cisplatin impregnated beads in the tumor for local chemo.
I hope this helps
Dr D