Vitamin B3 Shows Promise in Halting Brain Cancer's Return: University of Calgary Researchers
The realization he was fighting the most deadly form of brain cancer was terrifying, said Ed Waldner, a 57-year-old resident of Lethbridge. Before his diagnosis, he had noticed problems with walking and experienced relentless fatigue. A subsequent medical evaluation confirmed he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive brain cancer with a notoriously poor prognosis.
A Desperate Search for Solutions
After undergoing conventional treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Waldner was told there was nothing more that could be done to prevent the likely return of the cancer. "It was very scary at the time," he recalled. That's when he was offered the chance to participate in a groundbreaking clinical trial at the University of Calgary, testing whether high doses of vitamin B3 (niacin) could prevent cancer recurrence.
Waldner became one of 24 participants in the phase one clinical trial that employed greatly elevated doses of niacin following conventional treatments. "I had nowhere else to go, nothing else to do... why not try and help out?" said the father of two, explaining his decision to join the experimental treatment that began in 2024.
Encouraging Clinical Results
According to Dr. Wee Yong, a neurologist at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine and one of the lead researchers, the trial has shown positive results in 82 percent of participants. "Over a six-month period, more than 80 percent had no evidence of progression," said Yong. "It is very encouraging."
The researchers established that if the treatment didn't show at least a 20 percent improvement in success rates over previous studies, it would be discontinued. The current results demonstrate a 28 percent improvement, exceeding their threshold. "Oncologists were looking for a very high bar," noted Yong, emphasizing the significance of these findings.
The Science Behind the Treatment
Before reaching human trials, the research team led by Yong and University of Calgary oncologist Dr. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti had evaluated 1,040 different drugs for potential use against glioblastoma recurrence. Niacin emerged as one of the few promising candidates, despite being normally used to improve metabolism and support the immune system.
Glioblastoma presents a unique challenge because of its notorious ability to conquer immune cells and even use them to fuel its own growth. According to Yong, niacin appears to reverse this trend, potentially explaining its effectiveness in preventing cancer recurrence.
The treatment showed considerable promise in preliminary studies using mice, providing enough evidence to justify moving forward with human clinical trials. This research comes at a critical time, as there hasn't been any significant improvement in patient survival rates for glioblastoma in two decades.
Personal Success Story
For Ed Waldner, the experimental treatment has brought tangible benefits. So far, his cancer has shown no signs of growing, and he reports enjoying life more than even before his diagnosis. "I'm still doing wonderful, I'm doing great... there's not much cancer there, it's not progressing and I'm pretty happy with that," he said.
His experience represents a potential breakthrough in treating a cancer that has long frustrated medical researchers and devastated patients. While the research remains in early stages, the University of Calgary team's findings offer new hope for those facing glioblastoma recurrence.
