StageZero Life Sciences (TSX: SZLS), a cancer research company, has announced the launch of an updated version of its proprietary Care Oncology (COC) protocol. This protocol utilizes advanced biomarker testing and an interactive digital health platform to establish a stronger connection between a patient’s metabolic health and cancer outcomes.
Research has indicated that metabolically-targeted drugs have the potential to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy, radiation, and other standard of care treatments. By incorporating specific blood biomarker data into the COC protocol, StageZero’s clinical team will be able to more effectively evaluate the correlation between metabolic status and cancer outcomes.
James Howard-Tripp, CEO of StageZero, highlighted the objective assessment of metabolic control provided by the protocol. This assessment will allow for ongoing refinements in dosing and treatment to optimize patient outcomes.
The new protocol is designed not only to benefit patients but also to lay the groundwork for METRICS II, a novel approach that aims to gather high-quality clinical data to support potential changes in clinical practice.
In a study conducted by the UK-based Care Oncology Clinic between 2013 and 2016, 95 patients with Glioblastoma IV brain tumors were enrolled in the adjunctive COC protocol. The study revealed that patients receiving the COC protocol had a median overall survival of 26.3 months and a two-year survival rate of 55.8%. Comparatively, patients who received standard of care therapy alone had lower overall survival rates.
StageZero and Care Oncology Clinic are currently in discussions with prominent cancer centers in the UK and Canada to expand upon the original METRICS study using the latest tools available in the next generation COC protocol.
Traditional cancer treatments typically target cancer cells rather than addressing the root causes of the disease, such as metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation. The COC protocol focuses on identifying and tracking these root causes and other key biomarkers to potentially improve cancer outcomes. COC oncologists analyze blood test results and patient data to provide recommendations for optimizing nutrition, stress management, sleep, exercise, and may suggest specific medications to improve outcomes.
