The Cologne Model is a novel and creative approach in the treatment of cancer patients. In the Cologne Model, traditional academic (western) medicine is combined with new therapies, which have a sound scientific basis but are not standard of therapy yet. Therefore, therapeutic interventions and their outcome, including changes in quality of life of all patients, who are treated according to the Cologne Model, will be uniformly documented on a regular basis. In this way, efficacy can be evaluated and therapy modalities can be adjusted. Under the direction of Robert W. Gorter, MD, PhD., documentation and evaluation of all data will be conducted by the International Institute for Oncological and Immunological Research in Cologne, and with its collaborating centers.

Although cancers are various and individual, the available anti-cancer therapies tend to be standardized and seldom address the unique characteristics of a patient?fs particular tumour. For the most part, these therapies work like carpet bombing: the target is sometimes hit, but often it is not or only to a certain degree, because cancerous cells tend to be well-armoured against attacks, and, in any case, the therapies do considerable collateral damage to normal tissue.

For the same reason that the behaviour of wildlife in captivity may tell one more about captivity than about wildlife, it is difficult to test anti-cancer drugs in a petri dish. To get a better sense of a cancer?fs real vulnerabilities, you need to have the cells grow as a tumour in an animal, or even better, in a human. The same holds true for the functioning of the immune system. One can take blood samples and count, for instance, numbers and percentages of T-lymphocytes, and correlate numbers with function. But to study the function of T-lymphocytes, the researcher should observe the T-lymphocyte directly when it unfolds its immunocompetent function in the tissue of the organs in situ. Therefore, in the Cologne Model, not only immunocompetent cells will be counted and identified through surface markers, but also function tests will be conducted to document cell function and possible improvement of function during and after therapy. Other treatment modalities will target ?glife style changes?h. Attention will be paid to nutrition, and possible supplementation with vitamins (anti-oxidants) and trace elements. Other life style changes might include increased physical activities, like bicycling and walking (jogging), and exercise under guidance of an instructor. Adjacent to and in collaboration with the clinic, there is a well-equipped fitness center, where patients can receive expert instruction how to increase adequately their physical fitness through various forms of exercise.

Because of thorough clinical research in the field of psycho-neuro-immunology over the last fifteen years, there is no doubt, that there is a delicate but powerful interaction between the functioning of the psyche, or soul, the brain and the immune system. Therefore, it is of utmost importance, that a patient, who has been diagnosed with cancer, or any other life-threatening disease, will be supported in coping with his situation and through social and psychological support from specialized counsellors and psychotherapists. Supportive measurements are participation in support groups, biography workshops, curative eurythmy, art therapy, etc.

In conclusion, one can say, that the Cologne Model is new and very innovative, as it integrates traditional western academic medicine with novel therapies, paying significant attention to all the needs of the patient, and the characteristics of the tumour itself. In addition, all of these therapies have a sound scientific basis, and sufficient clinical experience has been collected to guarantee little to no side effects, and a well-founded hope for a good response to therapy. Good examples of the approach in the Cologne Model are the treatments with dendritic cells, hyperthermia, thymus peptides, Viscum album, procaine-bicarbonate infusions, orthomolecular medicine and improvement of intestinal mucosa and flora.

dendritic cell therapy...

Medical Center Cologne | at Eduardus hospital | Custodisstr. 3-17 | 50679 Cologne | Germany | Tel.: +49 221 788030 | e-mail MCC

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