Cancerous cells make use of glycolysis rather than respiration as their source of energy. This is because of hypoxia, which is present in the damaged mitochondria and tumors.

The cells which are highly damaged, abort themselves through apoptosis, which means that they indulge themselves in a self-destruction mechanism involving the mitochondria.

But this particular phenomena is not available in terms of cancer-causing cells. Based on Warburg hypothesis on the growth of cancer cells, it is mainly brought about by the mitochondria’s metabolic changes. This is an earlier belief regarding the development of cancer. However, as far as the recent studies are concerned, it is believed that the disease is a result of mutation within the cell genome.

University of Alberta researchers recently came up with a study that was based on the testing of dichloroacetate acid or DCA for cancer. This particular compound is tested on a rat subject as well as on the lines of cancer cells (in vitro).

The researchers came out with a discovery that DCA restored the functions of mitochondria. As a result of this restoration, the apoptosis mechanism is also restored. It furthers initiates that the vitro cancer-causing cells are killed and the tumors are shrunk.

This particular experiment attracted the eyes of the media all over the world. Lots of medical organizations, like ACS or American Cancer Society, have performed lots of inquiries and interest from the general masses about DCA.

Lots of reports were brought out as the result of these experiments. These results only pointed out the downside to the study. But the fact is that these findings have proved to be very positive and promising, but as such there are no formal clinical studies that are done on humans till now.

Despite giving lots of warnings on a public level, against the use of DCA for cancer patients, there are lots of professional surgeons as well as doctors who are indulged in treating their patients with “off-label” dichloroacetate acid.

Till date, there have been lots of cases about doctors who have being reported to higher medical associations for providing their patients who are suffering from cancer, with off-label DCA.

As far as the present time period is concerned, DCA remains to be a form of an experimental drug and it has never been properly tested on a cancer patient. These days more than ninety percent of the drugs that are used in the initial phase of clinical trials are regarded as unacceptable. Only eight to ten percent of the total drugs are approved by The Food and Drug Administration.

When DCA was earlier tested on patients who were suffering from lactic acidosis and not cancer, makes the point very debatable as to whether it can enter the second phase or not.

These days lots of drugs contain a less acidic version of the DCA, which is known as sodium dichloroacetate. Potassium dichloroacetate is also geared up with lesser acidic properties but the former one is more commonly used. So next time, when you are heading towards a chemist shop, in order to buy a drug, make sure that it is prescribed by the doctor and is reliable.