shark cartilage

touted as a cure for cancer based on the observation that sharks don\'t get cancer because something in their cartilage inhibits angiogenesis (blood vessel formation that tumours need to feed and grow). The absence of cancer in sharks is disputed. Cancers are documented, even in cartilage, but perhaps they are not as common as in other vertebrates. Not all cancers need angiogenesis. The preparation of the cartilage for human use often leaves something to be desired and any active element may well be no longer present. Ingesting cartilage does not mean significant amounts will reach the cancer site. Some more careful preparations have shown inhibition of blood vessel growth in tumours but also failed to prolong survival of patients with metastatic kidney cancer