November 14, 2001
Dana-Farber and news reports about 714-x
Recent stories on FOX News 25 in Boston have promoted a compound named 714-x as a "Canadian Cancer Cure." The station has implied that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is "turning its back on a potentially life-saving treatment" by deciding not to pursue research on 714-x because "there's not a lot of money to be made" from it, and that the Institute is "hiding a cure" for cancer." These implications are outrageous, irresponsible and absolutely false.
If you are curious about 714-x, or if a family member or friend has cancer and you are trying to decide on a course of treatment, please keep several things in mind:
- Little is known about 714-x and there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective treatment for cancer. It has not been approved for use in the United States and we urge patients not to forgo proven therapies for this or other unproven compounds. Please discuss your treatment options with your doctor.
- Dana-Farber endorses the use of complementary therapies with traditional cancer care in many circumstances. The Institute has launched a special center to study some kinds of complementary therapies and to make others more accessible to patients.
- After conducting some very preliminary laboratory tests on what was later identified as 714-x, Dana-Farber scientists eventually decided to pursue research they felt was more promising and would have more potential benefit to patients sooner.
- Nevertheless, because we believe cancer patients should have as much reliable information as possible, Dana-Farber has asked the National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine to evaluate the medical claims being made about 714-x. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is best able to collect case histories nationally to determine if further study of 714-X is warranted, and the results of its first review are expected in February.
- At no time did or would anyone at Dana-Farber ever "hide a cure" for cancer for any reason. The Institute participates in literally hundreds of clinical trials every year to develop new treatments, and Dana-Farber scientists continue to make research breakthroughs and discoveries that have already helped save countless lives. The results of this work are published openly and widely.
At all times, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will continue to apply the highest standards of science, medicine and compassion to its work. Everyone who works here, from physicians and scientists to nurses and administrators, all do so because they care deeply about helping our patients and their families fight this deadly disease.
