If arsenic is a life-saving medicine, Wu Dalang must be the first to disagree.
But who would have thought that such a frightening poison, placed in the hands of scientists, would become a life-saving medicine.
Since the 1970s, scientists have used this "murderous" poison to treat diseases and even fight the most dangerous leukemia.
Today, Brother Dian will take you into history to see this story of turning "poison" into treasure...
Speaking of arsenic, what is the first thing you think of?
poison?
Rat poison?
Crane top red?
"Da Lang, it's time to take the medicine!"
"I don't want you to die, Allow!" ......
That's right, the most well-known use of arsenic is poison.
Whether it is to solve the spouse or to give death to a concubine, it is the existence of the top stream of the ancient poison world.
(Image source: soogif)
Arsenic cream, the main ingredient is arsenic trioxide (abbreviated as ATO). It is a crystal or powder of arsenic that is sublimated after high-temperature processing, also known as "arsenic agent".
(The most authentic arsenic ore looks like this)
The key to the popularity of arsenic (arsenic) is that —
It is odorless, tasteless and leaves almost no trace.
A very small amount of arsenic can kill a person.
Acute poisoning presents with symptoms of multiple systemic impairments, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea mixed with blood, spasms of the limbs, coma, convulsions, etc.
(Tencent Medical Code)
After poisoning, most of them die within 24 hours due to liver and kidney failure and respiratory paralysis.
The death is very tragic, the conjunctiva, nose and oral mucosa are congested or erosive bleeding, and the "seven tricks of bleeding" is to describe arsenic poisoning [1-2].
But there are two sides to everything, and arsenic is no exception.
Whether it is poison or medicine, the decision always rests with the person who uses it.
Arsenic (arsenic) is also a mineral medicine with a long history.
In China, arsenic has a medicinal history of at least three thousand years [3].
Sun Simiao used arsenic-containing pills to treat malaria.
Ancient texts also record that arsenic cream can cure thrush and phylloscopic hemorrhoids, similar to modern canal tumors and other diseases [4-5].
Hippocrates, a pioneer in Western medicine, used plasters made of male yellow (tetraarsenic tetrasulfide) and female yellow (arsenic trisulfide) to treat ulcers .[6]
By the 18th century, some western jianghu lang used arsenic as a health miracle drug, and even launched a lavender-flavored health drink called "Fowler's liquid", the ingredient is 1% potassium arsenate, which is said to be able to strengthen the body and treat syphilis, malaria, and tumors, and this drink has been popular for 150 years [7-9].
In the 19th century, arsenic-containing products were ubiquitous, used as enemas, even sandwiched in bread or eaten with pepper. Some men in Austria also use arsenic as Viagra, believing that eating it increases sexual performance.[11]
Arsenic is, after all, a toxic substance, and modern medical research also tells us that -
"Poison is in all things, and nothing is non-toxic. The dose determines whether it becomes a poison or a cure"[12].
But the premise must be that the scientific method should be used.
Before introducing the "arsenic anti-cancer history", Dian Ge wanted to say a few names first. They all contributed to this history of medicine, only in different directions.
Han Taiyun Pharmacist (The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University), inspired by the barefoot doctor's treatment of tumors with arsenic extract, performed the extraction of the active ingredient, arsenic trioxide.
Professor Zhang Tingdong, Professor Jin Zhenjing, Professor Xu Jingsu, Professor Sun Hongde, etc. (the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University) began to use arsenic trioxide injection for the treatment of leukemia (mainly acute promyelocytic leukemia), which was very efficient.
Academician Wang Zhenyi, Academician Chen Zhu, Academician Chen Saijuan, Academician Chen Guoqiang, etc. (Shanghai Ruijin Hospital), the first to use the combined use of all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide, is called "Shanghai Solution" by the international medical community, and has become a globally recognized "gold standard".
Next, Brother Dian will take you to see how Chinese doctors used poison arsenic to overcome a very dangerous leukemia.
We set the hour hand back to 1971, in Lindian County, Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province.
A commune's health center has good news - cancer can be cured!
Pharmacist Han Taiyun of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University first discovered that a barefoot doctor in rural Lindian used the extract of arsenic to treat various tumors in the folk, which was used as a topical drug at that time.
In March 1971, Han Taiyun extracted the active ingredient, the main ingredient is arsenic trioxide, and named it "713". In addition to arsenic trioxide, the "713" injection also contained mercury and other elements, which was also known as "Cancer Spirit No. 1" at that time.
Subsequently, Dr. Zhang Tingdong of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University led a team to verify the situation. It turned out that it was an old Chinese medicine that treated lymph nodes with arsenic cream, light powder (a kind of Traditional Chinese medicine), and toad crisp. It was inadvertently used to treat skin cancer (applied topically), and it was cured.
Arsenic, light powder, toad crisp, is a highly toxic drug, once the use of the wrong symptoms or dosage is too much, it is easy to cause human life.
But what if it can really be used to fight cancer?
Han Taiyun, a pharmacist who was also in the expert group, and Dr. Zhang Tingdong began scientific research together, extracted the active ingredient from the other party, found out that arsenic trioxide was the real active ingredient, and tried to use it for the treatment of leukemia.
The experimental results also found that light powder is harmful to the kidneys, toad crisp has the side effect of raising blood pressure, and the effect of arsenic cream alone is the best.
It turns out that light powder and toad crisp are just poisons, bringing serious side effects, but have no therapeutic effect.
In a follow-up clinical study, Professor Zhang Tingdong's team found that arsenic had a good effect on a cancer called "acute promyelocytic leukemia" (APL), and 70% of patients had remission, and some patients could not find traces of cancer cells in their bodies at all [13-14].
You know, the fatality rate of this leukemia was very high at the time, with an overall median survival of only 16 months and a five-year survival rate of 31% [15].
This drug was also known as "Cancer Spirit No. 1" at that time.
At that time, Professor Zhang Tingdong's research was only published in Chinese journals and did not attract much attention.
However, another drug discovered by the team of academician Wang Zhenyi of Shanghai Second Medical College (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine) also has excellent efficacy on APL , total trans-retinoin (ATRA), and has been recognized by the international medical community.
(Academician Wang Zhenyi.) Source: Chinese Academy of Engineering official website)
Around 1994, Academician Chen Zhu and Academician Chen Saijuan, who had just returned to China, noticed Professor Zhang Tingdong's research.
They began to collaborate, and in 1996 published a paper in Blood, the top international journal of blood diseases,[16] announcing that they had found the molecular mechanism of arsenic for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and promoted this Chinese discovery to the world.
(Chen Zhu and Chen Saijuan are at the Shanghai Institute of Hematology.) Source: Cell)
After the story, it is logical -
Acute promyelocytic leukemia has transformed from a highly fatal disease to a curable class of acute leukemias [17], which is internationally known as the "Shanghai Solution".
Clinical trials in recent years have found that the combination of arsenic trioxide and all-trans tretinoin in the treatment of APL is better than the standard therapy of chemotherapy + all-trans tretinoin, with a response rate of nearly 100% and a 2-year survival rate of up to 99%[18-20]!
The outstanding achievements of these medical pioneers have also received the honors they deserve.
The 2020 Future Science Award, the "Life Sciences Award" was awarded to Professor Zhang Tingdong and Academician Wang Zhenyi in recognition of their discovery of the therapeutic effects of arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoids on APL.
(Image source: Future Science Prize)
Academician Wang Zhenyi also won the 2010 National High-tech Award.
Arsenic trioxide in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia is one of China's most important contributions to human medicine. But we must also not forget the contribution of doctors from other countries.
The history of arsenic in the treatment of leukemia dates back to the 19th century.
In 1865, two German doctors first discovered that arsenic formulated with "Fowler's solution" could treat leukemia, but the toxic side effects were great [21-22].
In 1931, two American physicians also discovered that arsenic could treat chronic myelogenous leukemia[23] and tried a variety of routes of administration, including oral, rectal, intramuscular, and intravenous.
Unfortunately, these therapies have not been continuously studied. The main reason is that at that time, people knew too little about leukemia, and arsenic itself was toxic, and when used as a drug, it was necessary to minimize the toxicity by controlling the dose and dosage form, so it was eventually abandoned.
This may be the time and place of Chinese doctors.
Under the guidance of traditional medical theory and practice, with the methods of modern medical research, great breakthroughs have been achieved.
This story of turning "poison" into treasure is told here.
The arsenic that poisons people in the past has left the stage of history, and the modern one has found its place in the stage of healing and saving people.
Research on arsenic anti-cancer continues, and the more promising ones include cervical cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, etc. [24-28].
We hope that these studies will lead to breakthroughs as soon as possible.
Medical exploration never stops.
Tips
Although arsenic can treat leukemia and cancer, it is still a highly toxic poison, and everyone should not take it privately. Medical advice must be followed.
Review expert: Liang Yang
Director of the Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cancer Prevention and Control Center of Sun Yat-sen University
Correspondent: Chen Xun
The Party-run Propaganda Department of the Cancer Prevention and Control Center of Sun Yat-sen University
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Author: Zhang Jie
Editors: Zhang Jie, Zhang Li, Ye Zhengxing
Proofreading: Wu Yihe | Typesetting: Li Yongmin
Operation: Han Ningning | Coordinator: Ye Yichu, Wu Wei