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Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer†‡

A North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial

  1. Charles L. Loprinzi M.D.1,§,*,
  2. Ralph Levitt M.D.2,
  3. Debra L. Barton R.N., Ph.D.1,
  4. Jeff A. Sloan Ph.D.1,
  5. Pam J. Atherton M.S.1,
  6. Denise J. Smith1,
  7. Shaker R. Dakhil M.D.3,
  8. Dennis F. Moore Jr. M.D.3,
  9. James E. Krook M.D.4,
  10. Kendrith M. Rowland Jr. M.D.5,
  11. Miroslaw A. Mazurczak M.D.6,
  12. Alan R. Berg M.D.7,
  13. George P. Kim M.D.8

Article first published online: 23 MAY 2005

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21107

Issue

Cancer

Cancer

Volume 104, Issue 1, pages 176–182, 1 July 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Loprinzi, C. L., Levitt, R., Barton, D. L., Sloan, J. A., Atherton, P. J., Smith, D. J., Dakhil, S. R., Moore, D. F., Krook, J. E., Rowland, K. M., Mazurczak, M. A., Berg, A. R. and Kim, G. P. (2005), Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer, 104: 176–182. doi: 10.1002/cncr.21107

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departments of Oncology and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

  2. 2

    Meritcare Hospital Community Clinical Oncology Program, Fargo, North Dakota

  3. 3

    Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program, Wichita, Kansas

  4. 4

    Duluth Community Clinical Oncology Program, Duluth, Minnesota

  5. 5

    Carle Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program, Urbana, Illinois

  6. 6

    Sioux Community Cancer Consortium, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

  7. 7

    Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium Community Clinical Oncology Program, Omaha, Nebraska

  8. 8

    Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida

  1. §

    Fax: (507) 284-1803

*Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905

  1. †

    This study was conducted as a collaborative trial of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and Mayo Clinic and was supported in part by Public Health Service grants CA-25224, CA-37404, CA-35113, CA-63849, CA-63848, CA-35195, CA-35272, CA-35269, CA-35103, CA-35101, CA-60276, CA-52352, CA-37417, CA-35448.

  2. ‡

    Additional participating institutions include: CentraCare Clinic, St. Cloud, MN 56301 (Harold E. Windschitl, M.D.); Siouxland Hematology-Oncology Associates, Sioux City, IA 51105 (Donald Wender, M.D.) Iowa Oncology Research Association CCOP, Des Moines, IA 50314 (Roscoe F. Morton, M.D.); Toledo Community Hospital Oncology Program (Paul L. Schaefer, M.D.); Medcenter One Health Systems, Bismarck, ND 58506 (Edward J. Wos, D.O.); Cedar Rapids Oncology Project CCOP, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 (Martin Wiesenfeld, M.D.); Meritcare Hospital CCOP, Fargo, ND 58122 (Preston Steen, M.D.)

  3. §

    Fax: (507) 284-1803

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 JUN 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 MAY 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 FEB 2005
  4. Manuscript Revised: 11 FEB 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 28 OCT 2004

Funded by

  • Public Health Service. Grant Numbers: CA-25224, CA-37404, CA-35113, CA-63849, CA-63848, CA-35195, CA-35272, CA-35269, CA-35103, CA-35101, CA-60276, CA-52352, CA-37417, CA-35448

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Keywords:

  • shark cartilage;
  • complementary medicine;
  • alternative medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Shark cartilage has been a popular complementary or alternative medicine intervention. The basis for this popularity is the claim that sharks rarely get cancer because of the high proportion of cartilage in the shark's body. However, early studies were equivocal. Therefore, a clinical trial was conducted to look at the impact of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer. The primary goal of this trial was to determine whether a shark cartilage product improved overall survival for patients with advanced cancer who were getting standard care. Secondary research goals were to evaluate toxicities, tolerability, and quality of life associated with this shark cartilage product.

METHODS

The study was a two-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. Patients with incurable breast or colorectal carcinoma had to have good performance status and organ function. Patients could be receiving chemotherapy. Patients were all to receive standard care and then to be randomly selected to receive either a shark cartilage product or an identical-appearing and smelling placebo 3 to 4 times each day.

RESULTS

Data on a total of 83 evaluable patients were analyzed. There was no difference in overall survival between patients receiving standard care plus a shark cartilage product versus standard care plus placebo. Likewise, there was no suggestion of improvement in quality of life for patients receiving the shark cartilage, compared with those receiving placebo.

CONCLUSION

This trial was unable to demonstrate any suggestion of efficacy for this shark cartilage product in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.

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