Alternative Pancreatic Cancer Treatments Designed to Provide Options for
Inoperable Tumors
A pancreatic cancer diagnosis should not limit your options to fight for your life. To help pancreatic cancer
patients,
even those with unresectable tumors, we deliver unique targeted therapies and minimally invasive surgical options at
Envita Medical Centers, a world-class Integrative center for Precision Oncology.
Treating late-stage and complicated cancers for over 25 years, we understand how utilizing research-based new
treatments, in combination with the latest in conventional medicine and natural therapies, may improve the chances of
a
positive outcome. Several patients have benefited from our powerful and personalized combination treatments, including
several proprietary
procedures, such as CIPI™ (Chemo Immuno Precision Injections) and GTFC™ (Genetically Targeted Fractionated
Chemotherapy). These precision targeted treatments have proved advantageous even in stage IV pancreatic cancer, when
the
Whipple procedure, often considered potentially lifesaving, is not a viable option anymore.
Several patients have benefited from our powerful and personalized combination treatments, including
several
proprietary procedures, such as CIPI™ (Chemo Immuno Precision Injections) and GTFC™ (Genetically Targeted Fractionated
Chemotherapy). These precision targeted treatments have proved advantageous even in stage IV pancreatic cancer, when
the
Whipple procedure, often considered potentially lifesaving, is not a viable option anymore.
Challenges in Standard Treatment
Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most complicated diseases to treat due to several reasons, such as:
Its stubborn stromal barrier, which makes it difficult for anti-cancer medicines to reach the targeted area.
The location of the pancreas with major blood vessels surrounding it, make surgical interventions, such as distal
pancreatectomy (removal of the body and tail of pancreas) or total pancreatectomy (removal of the entire
pancreas),
difficult.
Its
proximity to other
organs, such as the liver and stomach,
makes it
easy for the aggressive
pancreatic cancer cells
to spread faster leading to metastatic pancreatic cancer.
If not detected in the early stages, the Whipple procedure, which is performed to
remove the head of the pancreas, part
of the small intestine, the gall bladder, and the bile duct, is no longer effective, and patients are left with
limited
systemic therapy options.
Disclaimer: Individual results will vary. Envita makes no guarantees for outcomes. Each patient case is unique. Please
consult your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment. Not every patient is a candidate for care or
achieves these results. Treatments used in this case may not all be FDA approved for the treatment of this condition.
Envita’s Treatments Make a Difference in Outcome, Irrespective of the Stage of Pancreatic Cancer
Envita offers proprietary testing and medical technology to help overcome some of the challenges of pancreatic cancer
treatment.
Irrespective of the type and stage of pancreatic cancer, the stubborn stromal barrier of pancreatic tumors blocks the
passage of anti-cancer medicines into the tumor, affecting treatment efficacy.
To tackle this blockage, we directly deliver patient-specific micro dosed medications at the tumor site with
our
proprietary technology. Our unique interventional radiology technology CIPI™ (Chemo Immuno Precision
Injections) not
only impacts the tumor, even inoperable ones, but it also reactivates the body’s immune system, training it
to seek and
kill metastatic pancreatic cancer cells elsewhere in the body.
Disclaimer: Individual results will vary. Envita makes no guarantees for outcomes. Each patient case is unique. Please
consult your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment. Not every patient is a candidate for care or
achieves these results. Treatments used in this case may not all be FDA approved for the treatment of this condition.
Envita Medical Centers’ unique new treatments go beyond the care offered by standard healthcare providers, as it
utilizes personalized genetic and immunotherapy targets for each individual patient. Our personalized treatments are
designed to tackle the disease at its core to help our patients have the best chance to respond to care.
In the early stages, our personalized precision oncology treatments help in checking metastasis to nearby lymph
nodes,
blood vessels, or other organs, while in later stages they help patients to respond better to care and potentially
arrest further spread.
About 93% of pancreatic cancers are exocrine tumors, the most common among them being pancreatic ductal adeno
carcinoma
(PDAC), also called pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The remaining are neuroendocrine tumors (PNET), also called islet
tumors, which often grow more slowly than their
exocrine counterparts.
According to the American Cancer Society, which relies on data compiled and maintained by the National Cancer
Institute
(NCI), the currently reported 5-year
survival rate of pancreatic cancer is a dismal 11%, which drops down to 3%
when the disease has metastasized to distant regions.
Going Beyond the Standard Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
The high mortality and poor patient outcomes indicate an urgent need for precision-targeted treatments, which
can go
beyond the scope of the standard NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guideline treatments, followed at
all
major cancer centers in the country.
At Envita, we break away from these “one-size-fits-all” protocols based on
cancer type and stage, to provide unique
treatment options that go beyond standard healthcare options. Standard treatment of pancreatic cancer generally
includes
surgical intervention, multi-agent chemotherapy, and chemoradiation, a combination of chemo and radiation
therapies, all
of which can have varying levels of effectiveness dependent on a number of factors.
A comprehensive analysis of clinical trials in pancreatic
cancer indicate that there have been no new paradigm-changing therapies in the past 40 years beyond
multi-agent chemotherapy. While the standard protocols can improve prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer,
the development of chemoresistance still leads to poor clinical outcomes. To overcome challenges of
chemoresistance, which is common in this aggressive cancer, we focus on going beyond standard healthcare
treatments with our precision-targeted therapies.
What is Chemoresistance?
Chemotherapeutic drug resistance or multi- drug resistance (MDR) is caused when chemotherapy drugs do not yield
desired
results, as patients do not respond to care. This treatment failure is generally caused due to the poor sensitivity
of
the pancreatic cancer cells.
Medical studies indicate the poor sensitivity of PDA cells to chemotherapy is
related to many factors including reduced bioavailability of the drugs in tumor cells, abnormalities
in drugs metabolism and rapid acquisition of the capacity to activate alternative compensatory pathways. At Envita,
our certified oncologists collaborate with advanced naturopaths, to work on
all
these challenges by combining the perfect blend of leading edge conventional and next level natural therapies.
Physicians with MD, NMD, DO, DO(h), MD(h), medical licenses
22
Pharmacists specializing in integrative agents
7
Nurses trained in precision treatment delivery
40+
Envita’s Unique New Treatment Approach Improves Chances of a Holistic Recovery
Cancer is a disease of genetic mutations, genomics, messaging, and immunity, not simply tissue types and staging
patterns, which is why personalization is needed to treat the disease at its core.
In an aggressive disease like pancreatic cancer where the stubborn stroma of pancreas prevents most chemotherapies
from
being absorbed into the cancerous tumors, there are higher chances of rapid genetic mutations. To target these rapidly
mutating pancreatic cancer cells, patients need personalized precision oncology options which potentially impacts
their
unique cancer drivers, helping them gain an edge over their disease.
At Envita, our four-pillared precision oncology process is personalized following the N-of-1 model, which is a
single-subject clinical trial. Every patient is treated as a sole unit of observation, allowing us to monitor and
modify
treatment as needed with the goal of improved quality of life, increased longevity, and reduced toxicity.
Genomic identification helps to dive deep into the molecular biology of each patient’s distinct pancreatic
cancer, which
is crucial to determine an effective treatment plan for this highly heterogeneous cancer.
Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have revealed the molecular
heterogeneity of PDAC, and this heterogeneity
may partly explain the limited effectiveness of “one-size-fits-all” chemotherapy. This 2020
study highlights the urgent need to bridge the gap between the expanding capacity for NGS and the limited
infrastructure in place to integrate these technologies into clinical practice. However, we at Envita have
been
integrating the latest in medical technology into our clinical practice to provide precision oncology
treatment options
for all our patients, but not
everyone in standard healthcare facilities get access to these options.
At Envita, we provide precision oncology treatments to all our patients because the earlier you gain access
to
precision, the better chance you have to respond to care!
Our precision oncology algorithms direct us to the chemo and immuno medicines with the highest possible chance of
affecting each patient’s unique pancreatic cancer expressions, instead of relying on NCCN guided, tumor type and
stage-based treatment protocols. In standard oncology treatment, only if patients fail these initial rounds of
treatments, then they are considered eligible for access to precision, according to the NCCN guidelines.
This delay in access to precision can lead to unfavorable patient outcomes, especially in aggressive diseases like
pancreatic cancer. Even the handful of patients who do get some form of precision, after failing initial treatments,
receive a watered-down version of Envita’s detailed precision algorithms.
Envita’s detailed Precision Algorithm broadens the scope of comprehensive pancreatic cancer
treatment!
Envita Precision Algorithm vs. Standard Oncology Precision Testing
Envita Medical Centers
Standard Oncology Precision Testing
RNA Transcriptome Genes
Envita Medical Centers:20,000+
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
SNV/CNV Genes
Envita Medical Centers:452
Standard Oncology:309
Rearrangements/Fusion Genes
Envita Medical Centers:51
Standard Oncology:27
Microsatellite Instability (MSI)
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Checked
Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB)
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Checked
BRCA 1/2
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Checked
Immunohistochemistry
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Chemosensitivity
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Concurrent Liquid Biopsy
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Exosomal miRNA Analysis
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Circulating Tumor Cells Enumeration
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Pharmacogenomics
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Individualized Therapy Recommendation
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Carcinogenic Exposure - Root Causes
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Inflammation Markers
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
Metabolic Target Drivers
Envita Medical Centers:Checked
Standard Oncology:Unchecked
*Individual results may vary. Envita
makes no guarantees for outcomes.
Due to the absence of detailed precision testing, many traditional oncologists lack actionable metastatic disease
information of each individual patient, which is critical for guiding the treatment in real-time. This information is
especially crucial in pancreatic cancer, which is often considered a metastatic disease at the time of clinical
diagnosis due to lack of any reliable early diagnostic markers. As the majority of pancreatic cancer patients die of
metastatic disease, medical
studies underscore the urgent need to develop novel therapeutics that targets not just the primary tumor but
also the biological
vulnerabilities of metastatic cells, which is what we are doing for each one of our patients here at Envita.
We customize each patient’s treatment plan based on an exhaustive genomic identification which reveals their unique
pancreatic cancer biomarkers, which are key to establishing treatment targets. Biomarkers refer to enzymes, proteins,
or
any other substance or process that is indicative of the presence of cancer in the body. Analyzing these biomarkers
guide us to the specific chemotherapy and immunotherapy agents which have a higher potential of impacting the cancer.
At Envita Medical Centers, we utilize specialized genetic laboratory tests to gather unique genetic information
including miRNA, circulating tumor cell DNA, and DNA mutations to create a best matched, genetically targeted,
treatment
plan for the patient. This personalized genetic information is used to identify the chemotherapy, specialized
immunotherapy, and adjunctive agents the cancer is most susceptible to, enabling effective treatment. It also looks at
personal genomics to detect oncogenes and other potential root causes of the cancer. Additionally, our genetic testing
helps us establish treatment options to activate the immune system, while parallelly attacking the tumor.
A retrospective analysis of the Know Your Tumor
registry trial highlights the importance of genomically matched therapies, as patients with actionable molecular
alterations who
received these therapies had a longer overall survival period than those who did not. At Envita, our detailed
precision
algorithms provide a wider scope to identify actionable molecular alterations, allowing us to offer genomically
matched,
precision-targeted, care to all our patients.
Our intense research and clinical practice of over 25 years has led to the development of various innovative
immunotherapies, which are personalized to suit each patient’s unique pancreatic cancer biomarkers. We go beyond the
basic checkpoint inhibitors, smart drugs, and oncolytic viral therapies, to optimize treatment efficacy with the aim
of
achieving longer disease-free survival.
To maximize success rates of immunotherapy in an era of
personalized medicine, molecular and immune profiling should be the starting points of treatment selection,
which is exactly what we do here at Envita. We capitalize on the emerging genomic and biomarker profiles to identify
novel targets and strategies, which establish personalized therapeutic approaches with the highest potential of
recovery
for each of our pancreatic cancer patients.
Ultra Analytes Liquid Biopsy
Ultra Analytes Liquid Biopsy is deployed to identify targeted immunotherapy options to help get your
immune system working properly again.
Learn more
about
Immunotherapy
Envita’s Ultra Analytes liquid biopsy analyzes the Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) to help identify early signs of
metastasis to pave a smoother journey to remission. The CTCs are tiny cancer cells which break away from a growing
tumor
and enter the patient’s blood stream, spreading the cancer to different regions and organs, such as the liver, lungs,
or
stomach. The CTCs start breaking away from the tumor when they are as small as 2mm in diameter, which is why the
earlier
you get access to precision the better are your chances of avoiding disease growth, spread, and complications.
Step 3
Personalized Drug Design May Even Help in Unresectable Cancers
Our detailed precision algorithms and exhaustive genomic testing identifies actionable molecular targets which
are
integral in developing custom-compounded medications to impact cancer targets for which there are no
established drugs
on the market. Custom-compounded adjuvants may even help pancreatic cancer patients with inoperable tumors
because these
adjuvants have the potential to debulk the tumor and optimize treatment efficacy.
We custom compound these adjuvant therapies at our in-house pharmacy, utilizing
phytotherapeutics which include plant
extracts and herbs. Many oncology drugs currently used on the market are based on plant extracts, proving the
potential
of advanced phytotherapeutics in cancer care.
In our clinical experience, a combination of FDA approved drugs, repurposed drugs, and custom-compounded adjuvants,
work
effectively to strengthen a comprehensive pancreatic cancer treatment plan. We adjust the dosage of FDA approved and
repurposed drugs to suit each patient’s rate of metabolism, as abnormalities in drugs metabolism could be one of the
factors causing poor sensitivity of PDAC cells to chemotherapy.
The combination of a late or missed diagnosis along with the pancreas’ location and proximity to other organs makes
surgical intervention difficult for most pancreatic cancer patients. Even when surgery and stenting procedures are
performed, studies show the recurrence of local and
metastatic disease (primarily liver metastasis) post resection is considered to be the leading cause of
mortality in patients.
Traditional maximum dose untargeted chemotherapy is largely ineffective against pancreatic cancer due to the
pancreas’
stroma, which acts as a protective barrier preventing most chemotherapies from being absorbed into the cancerous
tumors.
These hurdles to care have made pancreatic cancer a truly complex condition to treat, but we at Envita focus on
treating
the disease and its cause, going beyond just managing it or using palliative care to relieve symptoms.
Envita’s proprietary interventional radiology technologies and unique treatment options help in overcoming many of
the
challenges of this aggressive cancer.
Here are some of our proprietary treatments:
CIPI™ (Chemo Immuno Precision Injection)
Envita Medical Centers designed CIPI™ as a form of minimally invasive targeted tumor chemoembolization, using
specialized genetic and immuno targets. Its goal is to directly ablate the cancerous mass while encouraging a systemic
immunotherapy response with precision and personalization for each patient. This proprietary interventional radiology
technology is especially helpful because most patients often have an inoperable pancreatic cancer, but CIPI™ uses a
minimally invasive microcatheter, with the width of a human hair, to deploy medications directly at the tumor site.
Once the microcatheter has reached the tumor, Envita deploys multiple treatments comprising genetically targeted
chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemo adjunctive agents. These agents are sealed inside the cancerous tumor to
potentially improve tumor kill while helping turn on the patient’s own immune system to fight the metastatic cancer
throughout the body.
As the tumor necroses, it releases antigens with important immunological information that may allow the immune system
to
recognize metastasized cancerous cells throughout the body. The antigens are picked up by dendritic cells, where the
immunological information is processed and then delivered to NK cells. These NK cells use the information to help
locate
and attack other metastatic cancerous cells in the body, creating a systemic response throughout the body wherever the
antigens are present.
A unique benefit to the CIPI™ procedure is its ability to circumvent the pancreas’ protective stroma, which acts as a
protective barrier, through direct injection of Envita’s genetically targeted medications into the tumors. This
catheter
delivery procedure helps to maximize absorption of personalized medications into the targeted tumor. CIPI™ not only
works to improve the effect these customized medications can have on the tumor, but also possibly aids in reducing the
potential negative side-effects of chemotherapy on surrounding healthy cells.
Envita's CIPI™ vs. Standard Surgery
Envita Medical Centers
Standard Surgery
Minimally invasive so it can be performed within 40-50 minutes, without the need for large surgical
incisions.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
Can be performed multiple times, even at close intervals, because there is minimal risk of post-op
complications.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
No need for general anesthesia, reducing the health risks that can result from being put into a
medically induced coma to perform an invasive surgery.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
Faster recovery time as compared to traditional surgery, due to the minimally invasive administration.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
Provides direct tumor targeting, which delivers patient-specific genomic agents into the tumor.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
Causes a systemic immune response where the immune system is reactivated to find and attack other
metastatic cancer sites in the body.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
Performed by highly trained medical professionals in an outpatient setting, so there is no need of
hospital stays for recovery.
Envita's CIPI™:Checked
Standard Surgery:Unchecked
*Individual results may vary. Envita
makes no guarantees for outcomes.
Envita's GTFC™ (Genetically Targeted Fractionated Chemotherapy) increases the mechanisms of action against cancer by
using metronomically dosed chemo medications, which have a higher potential of impacting each patient’s genetically
targeted biomarkers. This proprietary low dose intravenous chemotherapy increases the bioavailability of the
anti-cancer
medicines, and reduces chances of side effects, such as weakness and nausea, commonly experienced with maximum
therapeutic dose chemotherapy. Increased bioavailability of the medicines reduces chances of a spillover to the
adjoining healthy cells, thus decreasing chances of toxicity and side effects of a weakened immune system. A strong
immune system is crucial to your cancer recovery process because it plays a key role in curbing disease growth and
spread.
Envita's GTFC™ vs. Standard Chemotherapy
Envita Medical Centers
Standard Chemotherapy
Helps to improve chemotherapy delivery to the tumor using a "Trojan Horse" delivery mechanism.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Uses genetic molecular profiling to understand all the facets of each patient's specific cancer.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Uses targeted treatment to enhance the mechanism of cancer kill.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Uses microdosed (fractionated) chemotherapies, reducing the chances of impacting healthy cells.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Minimizes toxicity to normal cells, lowering the chance of side-effects related to administration.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Uses patient-specific supportive immunotherapy to strengthen the immune system.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Aims to reduce multidrug resistance by administering 10 - 20% of the medication delivered in maximum dose
chemo.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
Allows custom-compounded medications to be readministered in tandem to suit each patient's individual cancer
mutations.
Envita's GTFC™:Checked
Standard Chemotherapy:Unchecked
*Individual results may vary. Envita
makes no guarantees for outcomes.
Unexplained weight loss, often seen in early-stage disease, which gets overlooked
Poor appetite
Jaundice, marked by yellowing of the eyes and skin
Dark urine
Itchy skin
Pain in the abdomen
Back pain
Blood clots causing Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism
Diabetes
Call Us Today
If you are experiencing symptoms of pancreatic cancer, suspect you have the disease due to the associated risk
factors
such as age, obesity, and hereditary aspect, or a CT-scan shows the cancer, do not hesitate to call us. Our expert
team
leaves no stone unturned to attack each patient’s unique cancer expressions, while reactivating their immune system,
to
help them progress towards a long-term remission. Our physicians have been specially trained for over 1,500 hours in
our
unique personalized precision oncology approach to help patients at all stages of the disease. If you or your loved
ones
have any questions regarding pancreatic cancer, please feel free to call us at: 866-830-4576. May God bless you on
your
journey to healing.
Our team is ready to help you get your life back! Please enter your contact information and a Patient Care
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