Copper promotes the formation of blood vessels, including those that supply tumors. Depleting copper can deprive the tumor of its suppliers.

Are you a health professional?

This section does not replicate the other information on this topic but provides additional details or context most relevant to professionals.

Modes of action

Copper levels in blood plasma are significantly increased in neoplasias in the stomach, large intestine and lungs.1Scanni A, Licciardello L, Trovato M, Tomirotti M, Biraghi M. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in patients with neoplasias localized in the stomach, large intestine or lung. Tumori. 1977;63(2):175–180. As disease progresses, copper levels further increase, and they decline with remission.2Scanni A, Tomirotti M et al. Variations in serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in advanced gastrointestinal cancer treated with polychemotherapy. Tumori. 1979;65(3):331–338.

Intratumoral copper levels influence PD-L1 expression in cancer cells, and copper regulates key signaling pathways mediating PD-L1-driven cancer immune evasion. Copper chelators inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 and EGFR and promoted ubiquitin-mediated degradation of PD-L1.3Voli F, Valli E et al. Intratumoral copper modulates pd-l1 expression and influences tumor immune evasion. Cancer Research. 2020 Oct 1;80(19):4129-4144.

The inflammatory response induces copper uptake through an IL-17-STEAP4-XIAP axis, promoting colon tumorigenesis.4Liao Y, Zhao J et al. Inflammation mobilizes copper metabolism to promote colon tumorigenesis via an IL-17-STEAP4-XIAP axis. Nature Communications. 2020 Feb 14;11(1):900.

Preclinical evidence

Notable preclinical evidence is presented here; clinical evidence is summarized in How can copper chelation help you? What the research says ›

Improving treatment outcomes

Optimizing your body terrain

  • Antioxidant: Excess copper is a potent oxidant, causing the generation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. These ROSs are known to drive cancer development and growth.14Gupte A, Mumper RJ. Elevated copper and oxidative stress in cancer cells as a target for cancer treatment. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2009;35(1):32–46. 
  • Immune function: Improved immune pathway response in animals15Khan G, Merajver S. Copper chelation in cancer therapy using tetrathiomolybdate: an evolving paradigm. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 2009;18(4):541–548.
  • Anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies16Brewer GJ. Anticopper therapy against cancer and diseases of inflammation and fibrosis. Drug Discovery Today. 2005;10(16):1103–1109.

Professional commentary

Naturopathic physician Mark Bricca, ND, MAc, June 29-30, 2021: Tetrathiomolybdate is off-patent, and it has not recently been favored by regulatory agencies as a result. The FDA currently has it in a gray area with respect to compounding. Insurance virtually never covers it, since it is compounded and considered “experimental.” (And there’s been little interest in funding clinical trials using TM in cancer, since it is off-patent.)

While the wonderful doctor Mark Rosenberg, MD, uses TM more commonly as part of his treatment for people with active cancer, clinically I and other practitioners I know tend to rely on it primarily for recurrence prevention in higher risk cancers. Once a cancer is in remission, for recurrence to occur, a nascent tumor must flip what’s referred to as the “angiogenic switch” in order to grow any larger than about 2 cubic millimeters, which is the limit for passive diffusion of nutrients and wastes via the extracellular matrix. Half a dozen of the early angiogenic factors, including VEGF and FGF, are highly copper-dependent, so we can intentionally and skillfully use TM to selectively chelate copper stored in tissues in order to limit the supply available for any cancer-related angiogenesis.

Nothing is all good or all bad, and copper is needed in bone marrow for hematopoiesis, for collagen formation, and for proper neurological function. So, in practice, I consider using TM in patients at high-risk of cancer recurrence and in those for whom good treatment options do not exist in case of recurrence (I’ve had some good success preventing recurrence in very high risk osteosarcoma, and I plan to start this therapy soon in an eight year old, just in remission from extremely high risk Ewing’s sarcoma). Linda Vahdat, MD, has been leading clinical trials using TM in women at high risk of breast cancer relapse (TNBC and stage III cancers), and her findings over the years have consistently been favorable and in alignment with our collective (mine and colleagues’) clinical experience.

TM is compounded into 20 mg capsules, which have a relatively short shelf life after exposure to air (it oxidizes pretty readily and loses potency). The dose gets titrated to control serum ceruloplasmin (Cp), which is the primary copper carrying protein in the blood. Most labs’ lower limit of normal is about 18mg/dL for copper and, for cancer recurrence prevention, we typically seek to maintain copper in a range between 10 and 15mg/dL. I’ll go lower in higher risk situations, and I am more conservative in folks who have risk for development of cytopenias (such as people who recently completed myelosuppressive chemo, men on long-term ADT). We check copper at baseline and then monitor copper and CBC at least every 4 weeks. A typical induction dose, depending on baseline copper and level of urgency, is 40mg TM orally at the beginning of meals 3x/daily, plus 60mg nightly at bedtime (180mg/daily). Once target copper is achieved, the dose is adjusted for maintenance, and ideally the therapy is maintained for a sum total of 3 years at target copper. I care for two patients, one sarcoma patient and one TNBC patient, who have been on TM therapy for roughly 5 years while maintaining high-risk remission with no adverse effects from treatment.

Adverse effects, in my experience, are pretty rare, and they can include cytopenias in any cell line, development of mild peripheral neuropathy (pins/needles), leg cramping, and some wrinkling of skin. All adverse effects, when they arise, are dose-dependent, and typically amenable to dose adjustment and/or supportive strategies. In practice, I’ve not seen people, even those at high recurrence risk, go on to have recurrences after at least a year at target copper. The challenge, sometimes, is keeping them in durable remission for the first year of treatment, which seems to be the length of time required to adequately “de-copper” any potential tumor microenvironment.

Over the years, I’ve seen some peripheral neuropathy develop in less than 10% of people on long-term TM therapy. Typically, it’s been managed well with dose adjustment to maintain copper a little higher and, if symptoms are significant, we’ll also bring in the “usual” support for peripheral nerves (ALA, B6, etc). I’ve had one or two people choose to go off TM due to development of peripheral neuropathy, and in these instances the neuropathy has completely resolved within a month or so of cessation of treatment. It is good to watch this, as one would not want significant neuropathy to go unrecognized/treated. It’s a known possible side effect in a minority of TM users, and manageable when it arises, so it’s not something we worry about, just something to be aware of.

Peripheral neuropathy from TM, when it develops, typically takes time—I’ve not seen it arise until after a person has been on TM for a year or more. If a person had peripheral neuropathy, more commonly from cisplatin or oxaliplatin, then I would certainly watch more for this possibility. Peripheral neuropathy, while still possible, is substantially rarer with carboplatin—so while I would still be aware of the possibility, I would be less mindful of it than I would be given use of cis or oxaliplatin.

Of note, there is also good data on TM/copper chelation synergizing with platinum chemo treatments. This is a different use, however, and one needs to take care with lowering copper too much during chemo treatment, primarily in order not to place too much pressure on marrow hematopoiesis. Concurrent TM use with platinum chemo requires care, as platinum is myelosuppressive and copper reduction can predispose to cytopenias since copper is needed in marrow for blood cell production. So, in the rare instances that I combine these therapies, I simply go easier on dosing and perhaps aim to lower copper to just below normal, something like 16-18mg/dL, while carefully monitoring for any synergistic stresses in the CBC. I don’t do this often but, given data suggesting synergy between platinum and copper reduction, it’s a worthwhile consideration for some patients who are willing to try the treatment for potentially greater therapeutic benefit.

There are nuances to TM therapy in clinical practice, and they’re relatively easy to learn and straightforward to implement. I have found it to be an incredibly valuable resource for people! 

See further commentary regarding use by professionals in How do experts use copper chelation? ›

Helpful links for professionals

Brewer GJ. The promise of copper lowering therapy with tetrathiomolybdate in the cure of cancer and in the treatment of inflammatory disease. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2014 Oct;28(4):372-8.

Tsang T, Posimo JM et al. Copper is an essential regulator of the autophagic kinases ULK1/2 to drive lung adenocarcinoma. Nature Cell Biology. 2020 Apr;22(4):412-424.

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Keep reading about copper chelation

Authors

Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant
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Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Nancy Hepp, MS

Lead Researcher and Program Manager
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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher, program manager, and writer for CancerChoices. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS Lead Researcher and Program Manager

Reviewer

Jen Green, ND, FABNO

Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor
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Dr. Green is a naturopathic physician who is board-certified in naturopathic oncology (FABNO). Dr. Green is also a cofounder/research director for Knowledge in Integrative Oncology Website, a nonprofit website that harvests up-to-date research in integrative oncology to support evidence-informed decision making. Dr. Green has published scientific articles in journals such as the American Urology Association Update SeriesJournal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine and Natural Medicine Journal.

Jen Green, ND, FABNO Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

Last update: December 8, 2023

Last full literature review: July 2021

CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

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