A Clinical Trial of Amygdalin (Laetrile) in the Treatment of Human Cancer

clinical trial · 1982

type:clinical trial

year:1982

citation:Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Rubin J, Kvols LK, Sarna G, Koch R, Currie VE, Young CW, Jones SE, Davignon JP. A Clinical Trial of Amygdalin (Laetrile) in the Treatment of Human Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 306, no. 4 (28 January 1982): 201-206. PMID: 7033783. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM198201283060403.

LINK

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7033783/

SUMMARY

The NCI-sponsored multicenter clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) administered under the 'metabolic therapy' regimen (diet, enzymes, vitamins) advocated by laetrile proponents, to 178 patients with advanced cancer (175 evaluable). Among 175 evaluable patients, only one met the criteria for tumor response (partial, temporary). Median survival and time to disease progression were comparable to those expected with no treatment; the paper concludes amygdalin, administered by itself or with the metabolic-therapy regimen, produced 'no substantive benefit' in terms of cure, improvement, or stabilization of cancer, or extension of life span, or a decrease in cancer-related symptoms. Several patients showed evidence of chronic cyanide toxicity or had blood cyanide levels approaching the lethal range. PMID 7033783 confirmed via PubMed/NCBI eutils esummary and Crossref DOI resolution.

NOTES

Direct clinical evidence of laetrile’s evidentiary failure and toxicity risk. The single strongest source for the case’s disconfirmation arc, described by the NCI PDQ as a consecutive case series and cited by multiple systematic reviews (Milazzo/Cochrane 2011, Milazzo 2007).