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Other common
name(s): Rimso-50
Scientific/medical
name(s): dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylsulfoxide
Description
Dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, is an industrial solvent that is
a by-product of making paper. It has been promoted as an alternative
cancer treatment since the 1960s.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not suggest that DMSO is
effective in treating cancer in humans. It is being studied as a drug
carrier to increase the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs
currently used to treat bladder cancer. The only use for which DMSO is
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is for the
treatment of a type of bladder inflammation known as interstitial
cystitis.
How is it promoted for use?
Supporters say that DMSO can cause cancerous cells to become
noncancerous, or benign, and can slow or stop the progress of cancer in
the bladder, colon, ovary, breast, and skin. Some claim that it is
useful in treating leukemia, and it has also been used as a part of
some metabolic cancer therapies (see "Metabolic
Therapy"). Some people have promoted DMSO as preventing
cancer. They claim it works by "cleaning" cell membranes and decreasing
the effect of cancer-causing substances.
Some researchers believe that DMSO can be used with certain
chemotherapy drugs to make them more effective. DMSO is also promoted
to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments in
people with cancer. DMSO can supposedly boost the immune system and
scavenge free radicals caused by these treatments. In addition, it has
been promoted as a way to control the "withdrawal symptoms" felt by
cancer patients when taken off conventional cancer treatment.
DMSO is often used as a cream or ointment applied to the skin
to reduce pain, decrease swelling, treat autoimmune diseases such as
arthritis, and promote healing in wounds and burns.
What does it involve?
DMSO is medically approved in the United States only for the
treatment of interstitial cystitis, a type of inflammation of the
bladder. When used for this condition, a 50% solution of DMSO is
instilled into the bladder through a catheter and left there for about
15 minutes.
As an alternative therapy for cancer, DMSO is available
through many health food stores, mail-order outlets, and on the
Internet. It is typically applied to the skin in a gel, liquid, or
roll-on form. It can also be taken by mouth or as an intravenous
injection, in many cases along with other drugs. Strengths and dosages
vary widely.
What is the history behind it?
DMSO was first discovered in the mid- to late nineteenth
century and has been used as an industrial solvent for more than a
hundred years. In the 1950s, it was discovered that DMSO could protect
cells from the damage of freezing. In the 1960s, Dr. Stanley Jacob, one
of the main proponents of DMSO, began to study other medicinal
properties of the substance. In 1965, clinical trials of DMSO were
stopped due to questions about its safety. However, in the 1970s, DMSO
was approved for use as an anti-inflammatory treatment in dogs and
horses and as a prescription drug for a type of bladder inflammation in
humans.
What is the evidence?
Tests of DMSO for treating human illness began in the
mid-1960s but were stopped because of questions of safety, mainly
dealing with a possible ability to cause damage to the eye. Early
research did not find that DMSO was useful in the treatment of cancer.
However, more recent research in rats has shown that DMSO may deserve
further study as a drug carrier to enhance the effectiveness of some
chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of bladder cancer.
In a 1988 laboratory study, the addition of 4% DMSO to the
chemotherapy drugs most often used in the bladder did not kill more
cancer cells. However, animal studies done since that time have found
that adding DMSO to some chemotherapy drugs helped the bladder to
absorb them better. Further studies are needed to learn whether the
results apply to humans.
DMSO is a common chemical used in the laboratory. Small
amounts of DMSO are sometimes used to dissolve drugs and other
chemicals that do not dissolve well in water, so that these substances
can be tested in animals or in experiments with cells growing in
laboratory dishes. However, in those cases, it is the drug, not DMSO,
that acts in the body. DMSO is sometimes used in laboratory studies to
help cancer cells mature and/or differentiate (to acquire some
characteristics of noncancerous cells). This is one reason that is used
to support DMSO as an anti-cancer agent. However, the concentrations
typically used in the laboratory would be highly toxic or even fatal to
a human. Some researches have continued laboratory studies to
understand how high concentrations of DMSO might influence
characteristics of cancer cells. In a 2007 review, the scientists
describe how their laboratory studies of DMSO led to discovery of
another substance that turned out to be useful as a chemotherapy drug
and has already been approved by the FDA.
Research has shown that DMSO appears to have some effect in
reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation, as well as some other
properties that may make it useful in treating certain conditions. More
testing is needed to show it is safe and effective for these uses in
people.
DMSO is approved by the FDA to treat a single type of bladder
disorder (interstitial cystitis) in humans and as a veterinary
treatment to reduce swelling in horses and dogs.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
This substance
may not have been thoroughly tested to find out how it interacts with
medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though some reports of
interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of
interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these
limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below
should be considered incomplete.
Early clinical trials with DMSO were stopped because of
questions about its safety, especially its ability to harm the eye. The
most commonly reported side effects include headaches and burning and
itching on contact with the skin. It can also cause a powerful
garlic-like taste and odor on the breath and skin. Strong allergic
reactions have been reported. In high concentrations, DMSO can be fatal
to humans. Industrial-grade DMSO is sometimes contaminated with other
substances. DMSO can cause contaminants, toxins, and medicines to be
absorbed through the skin, which may cause unexpected effects.
DMSO is thought to increase the effects of blood thinners,
steroids, heart medicines, sedatives, and other drugs. In some cases
this could be harmful or dangerous. Be sure to tell your doctor or
pharmacist about all herbs and supplements you are taking, including
DMSO.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use this
treatment. Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or
delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
American Cancer Society. Unproven methods of cancer
management. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). CA Cancer J Clin.
1983;33:122-125.
Chen D, Song D, Wientjes MG, Au JL. Effect of dimethyl
sulfoxide on bladder tissue penetration of intravesical paclitaxel. Clin Cancer Res.
2003 Jan;9(1):363-369.
Hashimoto H, Tokunaka S, Sasaki M, Nishihara M, Yachiku S.
Dimethylsulfoxide enhances the absorption of chemotherapeutic drug
instilled into the bladder. Urol
Res. 1992;20:233-236.
Marks PA, Breslow R. Dimethyl sulfoxide to vorinostat:
development of this histone deacetylase inhibitor as an anticancer
drug. Nat Biotechnol.
2007;25:84-90.
MD Anderson Cancer Center. DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide). Accessed
at:
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/display.cfm?id=8e9bcb72-f0a0-11d4-810300508b603a14&method=displayfull&pn=6eb86a59-ebd9-11d4-810100508b603a14.
on June 11, 2008.
See WA, Xia Q. Regional chemotherapy for bladder neoplasms
using continuous intravesical infusion of doxorubicin: impact of
concomitant administration of dimethyl sulfoxide on drug absorption and
antitumor activity. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992;84:510-515.
Solit DB, Ivy SP, Kopil C, et al. Phase I trial of
17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin in patients with advanced
cancer. Clin Cancer Res.
2007 Mar 15;13(6):1775-82.
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Unconventional
Cancer Treatments. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1990.
Publication OTA-H-405.
Walker L, Walker MC, Parris CN, Masters JR. Intravesical
chemotherapy: combination with dimethyl sulfoxide does not enhance
cytotoxicity in vitro. Urol
Res. 1988;16:329-331.
Windrum P, Morris TC, Drake MB, Niederwieser D, Ruutu T; EBMT
Chronic Leukaemia Working Party Complications Subcommittee. Variation
in dimethyl sulfoxide use in stem cell transplantation: a survey of
EBMT centres. Bone
Marrow Transplant. 2005 Oct;36(7):601-3.
Yaman O, Ozdiler E, Sozen S, Gogus O. Transmurally absorbed
intravesical chemotherapy with dimethylsulfoxide in an animal model. Int J Urol.
1999;6:87-92.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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