 This angiogenesis inhibition is known to be associated with a protein, which was found to be in concentrations 1,000 times higher in shark cartilage than in mammalian or bovine [cattle] cartilage.3
These results raise a couple of questions: Is this angiogenesis inhibition effect transferable to humans and mammals? And can it be administered in a convenient form? Optimally, taking shark cartilage in a capsule or tablet, rather than injections, would be the most convenient method to use this substance. The results of studies undertaken by Dr. G. Atassi, Ph.D., of Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels, Belgium, one of the largest and most prestigious cancer research center in Europe, showed oral administration to be effective.4
Nude mice (mice without immune systems and able to accept and grow human cancers) were grafted with human melanoma. After two days one group was given a dried shark cartilage powder orally (1200 mg/kg daily), the other (control) group was not. At 21 days, the tumors in the control group were growing geometrically while the growth rate of the treated group was nearly flat. This illustrates the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor growth.  Once the blood vessels are established, the tumors grow rapidly. Note the amount of growth in the last seven days. After 21 days, the tumors of the control group were 2.5 times their original size, while the treated group tumors were approximately 60% of their original size (Figure 2). Note the near perfect correlation between the results of Dr. Langer (Figure 1) and Dr. Atassi (Figure 2).
One valuable aspect of shark cartilage compared to other angiogenic inhibiting compounds is that it is not toxic. Other compounds that exhibit angiogenesis inhibition can cause significant side effects. In over seven years of research, no toxicity has been found through the use of shark cartilage. In fact, the Chinese have been consuming shark cartilage in the form of shark fin soup for hundreds of years.
Angiogenesis Inhibition, Metastasis and Tumor Regression
Another area where angiogenesis inhibition is cause for hope is the control of metastasis. Often, the location of the initial tumor is not necessarily life threatening. However, once a tumor establishes itself, it may throw off part of itself which enter blood vessels or the lymph system, and spread to vital organs and other tissue.
Patricia D'Amore, Ph.D., who works with Dr. Folkman at Children's Hospital and Harvard, has published the theory that "since vascularization is so clearly essential for the establishment and subsequent growth of metastasis, it seems equally obvious that inhibition of vascularization might be a way to prevent the formation of metastasis."
Moreover, angiogenesis inhibition may be an answer to tumor regression. Dr. Rakesh Jain, Ph.D., a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and an expert on the physiology of tumors, explained in a recent paper published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute that the blood vessel network associated with tumors is usually weak and disorganized, necessitating constant renewal and replacement. By introducing angiogenesis inhibition, the prospects of reducing the size of existing tumors logically makes sense. Since the nourishment network to the tumor is not being replaced, it is starved for blood, and starts to die off.
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