Diarrhea is a huge subject for NET patients, whether it’s caused by the tumor itself (i.e. a syndrome), due to treatment, knock on effects of treatment, or some other reason, it can dramatically limit qualify of life. Working out the root cause can be problematic even for medical teams. I wrote about these issues before in my article Neuroendocrine Cancer – the diarrhea jigsaw.
enterade® is a first-in-class, glucose-free medical food that is composed of five critical amino acids (Valine, Aspartic Acid, Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine) and electrolytes (potassium and sodium) to help manage debilitating gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. With no sugar to exacerbate the GI tract, enterade supports the small bowel’s ability to absorb fluids, nutrients, and electrolytes and leads to improved digestive function. By helping to restore normal GI function, enterade reduces diarrhea and dehydration, leading to a significant improvement in the patient’s overall quality of life and a healthier GI tract.
I don’t normally write articles on commercial products but this one is an exception given that it has been classed as a medical food since 2012 and used to rehydrate patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer. Since May 2017, it’s been trialled by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center (MCC) for potential use by NET patients – trial coordinators include the well-known NET specialist Dr Lowell Anthony. The results so far are very interesting. The recent conference reported revised data as follows:
- 73% reported an improvement.
- >52% of the patients reported more than 50% reduction in diarrhea frequency
There was a wide range of patient types including seven with small intestinal NET, 5 had bronchial NETs, 2 had colorectal NETs, 3 had NETs of unknown primary, 3 had gastric NETS, 2 had pancreatic NETs and one had high grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate
You can read more here:
1. Enterade Blog – A breakthrough for NET Patients. click here.
2. The Anti-Diarrheal Efficacy of an Amino Acid Mixture in Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Patients (ASCO GI Symposium Extract from UKMCC) – click here. (note contains last year’s data)
3. Recent output from ASCO 2018 – click here. (contact data update for 2018)
4. If you are interested in more information about how enterade® works, check out this short video
My research indicates this product is being trialled on a number of other conditions to support quality of life and to mitigate the side effects of treatment.
Please note this is not a recommendation to go out and buy it, I have no connections to the trial or the manufacturers. This is me just keeping you guys up to date on the pipeline for new treatments. This product is described as a ‘medical food’ and is formulated to be consumed or administered under the supervision of a physician.
Next steps?
A prospective Phase II study of enterade® in GEPNET patients with quality of life limiting diarrhea is planned.
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Remember ….. in the war on Neuroendocrine Cancer, let’s not forget to win the battle for better quality of life!
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How does this differ from Xermelo which I have found to be very effective
Xermelo is a tryptophan inhibitor and is targeting Diarrhea caused by Carcinoid Syndrome (not adequately controlled by somatostatin analogues). This product is more for fixing Diarrhea caused by side effects of treatment (and it’s a lot cheaper!)
This sounds very hopeful; the scientific report was interesting although the ‘ad’ would’ve turned me right off ie phrases like ‘a natural drink’….
Is there any data on whether it helps with gas?
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Other than what’s on the University of Kentucky trial update, no idea Deanna
Thanks for replying Ronnie; I’m sure you will let us know if there’s found to be a link with this problem.