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Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer 1st Edition
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- ISBN-100470584920
- ISBN-13978-0470584927
- Edition1st
- PublisherWiley
- Publication dateJune 26, 2012
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions6.4 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
- Print length448 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“This book offers a refreshing perspective for anyone wanting to get a comprehensive background on the newer emerging interest in targeting cancer metabolism for therapy.” (Doody’s, 11 January 2013)
“For the first time, an entire issue is being devoted to a review article based on a recent medical book. This is a departure from our usual format, but I think you will agree that this topic warrants the detailed treatment we have given it . . .This book should be required reading for all scientifically literate people who are involved in the cancer problem.” (Advances in Cancer Treatment, 1 October 2012)
From the Inside Flap
A groundbreaking new approach to understanding, preventing, and treating cancer
Supported by evidence from more than 1,000 scientific and clinical studies, this groundbreaking book demonstrates that cancer is a metabolic disease and, more importantly, that it can be more effectively managed and prevented when it is recognized as such. Moreover, the book provides detailed evidence that the traditional view of cancer as a genetic disease has been largely responsible for the failure to develop effective therapies and preventive strategies.
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease reevaluates the origins of cancer based on the latest research findings as well as several decades of studies exploring the defects in tumor cell energy metabolism. Author Thomas Seyfried is a biochemical geneticist who has been investigating the lipid biochemistry of cancer for thirty years. In this book, he carefully establishes why approaching cancer as a metabolic disease leads to better understanding and management of all aspects of the disease, including inflammation, vascularization, cell death, drug resistance, and genomic instability. In addition, the book explores:
- Origin of metastasis
- New treatment strategies that target tumor cell energy metabolism, including the ketogenic diet
- More effective prevention strategies in light of the metabolic origin of cancer
- Case studies and perspectives from the point of view of physicians, patients, and caregivers
Throughout the book, tables, figures, and graphs summarize key information and clarify complex concepts. In addition, the renowned cancer biochemist Peter Pedersen from Johns Hopkins Medical School also provides a historical perspective on the importance of the information presented in his foreward to the book.
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease is essential reading for all cancer researchers and clinicians as well as public health professionals. By treating cancer as a metabolic disease, the book sets readers on a new, more promising path to understanding the origins of cancer and developing new, more effective strategies to treat and prevent it.
From the Back Cover
A groundbreaking new approach to understanding, preventing, and treating cancer
Supported by evidence from more than 1,000 scientific and clinical studies, this groundbreaking book demonstrates that cancer is a metabolic disease and, more importantly, that it can be more effectively managed and prevented when it is recognized as such. Moreover, the book provides detailed evidence that the traditional view of cancer as a genetic disease has been largely responsible for the failure to develop effective therapies and preventive strategies.
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease reevaluates the origins of cancer based on the latest research findings as well as several decades of studies exploring the defects in tumor cell energy metabolism. Author Thomas Seyfried is a biochemical geneticist who has been investigating the lipid biochemistry of cancer for thirty years. In this book, he carefully establishes why approaching cancer as a metabolic disease leads to better understanding and management of all aspects of the disease, including inflammation, vascularization, cell death, drug resistance, and genomic instability. In addition, the book explores:
- Origin of metastasis
- New treatment strategies that target tumor cell energy metabolism, including the ketogenic diet
- More effective prevention strategies in light of the metabolic origin of cancer
- Case studies and perspectives from the point of view of physicians, patients, and caregivers
Throughout the book, tables, figures, and graphs summarize key information and clarify complex concepts. In addition, the renowned cancer biochemist Peter Pedersen from Johns Hopkins Medical School also provides a historical perspective on the importance of the information presented in his foreward to the book.
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease is essential reading for all cancer researchers and clinicians as well as public health professionals. By treating cancer as a metabolic disease, the book sets readers on a new, more promising path to understanding the origins of cancer and developing new, more effective strategies to treat and prevent it.
About the Author
THOMAS N. SEYFRIED, PhD, has taught and conducted research in the fields of neurogenetics, neurochemistry, and cancer for more than twenty-five years at Yale University and Boston College. He has published more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters and is on the editorial boards of Nutrition & Metabolism, Journal of Lipid Research, Neurochemical Research, and ASN Neuro.
Product details
- Publisher : Wiley; 1st edition (June 26, 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 448 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0470584920
- ISBN-13 : 978-0470584927
- Item Weight : 1.8 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #31,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Biochemistry (Books)
- #16 in Nutrition for Cancer Prevention
- #20 in Oncology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Thomas N. Seyfried received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1976. He did his undergraduate work at the University of New England (formally St. Francis College) and also holds a Master’s degree in Genetics from Illinois State University, Normal, IL. Thomas Seyfried served with distinction in the United States Army First Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War, and received numerous medals and commendations including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Neurology at the Yale University School of Medicine, and then served on the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Neurology. Prior to receiving full professorship, Dr. Seyfried was an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Boston College. Other awards and honors have come from such diverse organizations as the American Oil Chemists Society, the National Institutes of Health, The American Society for Neurochemistry, and the Ketogenic Diet Special Interest Group of the American Epilepsy Society. Dr. Seyfried previously served as Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee for the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association and presently serves on several editorial boards, including those for Nutrition & Metabolism, Neurochemical Research, the Journal of Lipid Research, and ASN Neuro. Dr. Seyfried’s research program focuses on gene environmental interactions related to complex diseases, such as epilepsy, autism, brain cancer, and neurodegenerative (the GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses) diseases. Dr. Seyfried investigates many of these diseases from the perspective of, genetics, lipidomics, and energy metabolism. Much of his work also has direct translational benefit to the clinic. A list of Dr. Seyfried’s recent publications appear on his website in the Boston College Biology Department (http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/biology/facadmin/seyfried.html).
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Customers find the science fascinating, understandable, and insightful. They describe the book as marvelous, essential reading for medical professionals, and well worth their time. Opinions are mixed on readability, with some finding it clear and compelling, while others say it's difficult to read in detail for the first 16 chapters.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the science fascinating, understandable, and informative. They say it's well-referenced and insightful. Readers also mention that the content is interesting and convincing.
"...The scientist is thorough, exciting, changeing ideas. Making a real difference and deserving awards. Amazing I cannot say enough in praise." Read more
"...as that of many other leading scientists provides a logical and clearly written account of the impressive body of data that continue to give..." Read more
"...therapies are simple and include "therapeutic fasting", calorie restricted ketogenic diets and relatively cheap and safe drugs that target glycolysis..." Read more
"...Overall, I found it to be well-written, well-substantiated, and clinically relevant. In the oncology world, that is an exceedingly rare Trifecta...." Read more
Customers find the book marvelous, engaging, and essential reading for medical professionals. They say it's well-researched and academically grounded. Readers also mention the book rewards them with knowledge and contemplation about one of the great plagues.
"Thoroughly enjoying and engaging. We are applying his ideas to our lifestyle. The writing is clear, the organization excellent...." Read more
"...That said Dr. Seyfried’s treatise was well worth my time. He taught me a great deal...." Read more
"...It is a challenging book, but one that rewards the reader with knowledge and contemplation about one of the great plagues in modern society with..." Read more
"...These are excellent books, but I found Dr. Seyfried's book to be more informative and empowering because it gives the reader clear evidence for the..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some mention it's well-written, clear, and compelling. Others say it's very technical and difficult to read in detail for the first 16 chapters.
"This book is a difficult read on the Kindle. Formatting is not ideal at times, at least reading it on my iPad...." Read more
"...We are applying his ideas to our lifestyle. The writing is clear, the organization excellent. It is more than worth the price...." Read more
"...But be forewarned, it is not an easy read." Read more
"...Seyfried’s review of the Warburg’s work is clear and compelling, even to a non-specialist, although a web search from time to time is helpful to..." Read more
Reviews with images
Most important book your Oncologist SHOULD read today and One other you should buy
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Top reviews from the United States
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As so powerfully and effectively described by the author of this book, slow progress in the “war on cancer” lies not only in the complexity of the disease itself, but also, and perhaps more importantly, on the non-universal recognition of some of the most basic and fundamental aspects of the cause of cancer. The author takes the position that cancer is a metabolic disease, following up on the pioneering research of Nobel laureate, Dr. Otto Warburg. Seyfried’s review of the Warburg’s work is clear and compelling, even to a non-specialist, although a web search from time to time is helpful to fully grasp some of the more sophisticated concepts in biology. The presentation and review of the author’s research as well as that of many other leading scientists provides a logical and clearly written account of the impressive body of data that continue to give validity to the “Warburg theory”. Accordingly, metabolic processes in normal and abnormal (cancerous) cells are compared with an emphasis on realistic models based largely on animal studies. Supporting data are illustrated by figures and images that convincingly implicate metabolic dysfunction and respiratory insufficiency as the essential cause of cancer. Importantly, Seyfried then makes the strong case that it is the metabolic dysfunction that induces gene modification, now commonly recognized in virtually all cancers. The important take home message, however, is that it is the metabolic dysfunction of the cell that drives genetic modifications-not the other way around. This is profoundly important with far reaching implications, especially for the management and prevention of cancer. Indeed, in light of these results, it is a mystery to this reviewer why there is presently such universal focus on the genome in the development of drugs to treat what appears to be a metabolic disease. This seems to be a case of the tail wagging the dog, which would be OK, if the stakes were not so high for so many.
The last four to five chapters of the book emphasize the broader aspects of metabolic dysfunction in cancer and how an appreciation of this can lead to more humane treatments than presently is the case. The so-called “standard of care” overwhelmingly used at present emphasizes the application of poisonous drugs and toxic doses of radiation, which, as noted by the author, often engenders in patients a fear that rivals that of the disease itself. In chapter 20 the author details the beneficial and therapeutic effects in cancer treatment of the ketogenic diet that takes full advantage of strategies logically linked to the scientific principals developed throughout the book.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the origin and treatment of cancer. It is a challenging book, but one that rewards the reader with knowledge and contemplation about one of the great plagues in modern society with every turn of the page.
According to Otto Warburg's theory of cancer, mitochondrial dysfunction is the origin of cancer. Dr. Seyfried has amassed extensive evidence to support Warburg's theory and advances the idea that cancer arises from defects in energy metabolism (mitochondrial dysfunction), and that this metabolic dysfunction triggers genomic instability, activates oncogenes and inactivating tumor suppressor genes. The author does an incredible job at convincing the reader that healthy mitochondria are the ultimate tumor suppressor.
It's clear that the strategy to treat cancer as a genetic disease is not working following metastasis of solid primary tumors, but this fuels the pharmaceutical industry. Enormous amounts of money are spent on large cancer genome projects, but this has not advanced our understanding or treatment of cancer as expected. The cancer genome project has actually created more confusion amongst cancer researchers, and this is very clear if one reads the literature. On the other hand, when cancer is viewed as a metabolic disease the strategies to treat and prevent cancer become incredibly simplistic and economical. For example, animals studies, case reports and anecdotal evidence demonstrate that metabolic therapies that lower blood glucose and elevate ketones will quickly reduce tumor growth, extend lifespan and in some cases cause complete remission. This strategy is effective because cancer cells are fueled by glucose and lack the ability to derive energy from ketones due to mitochondrial defects. Metabolic therapies exploit the mitochondrial defects associated with cancer by targeting glucose metabolism, reducing insulin and elevating ketones. These therapies are simple and include "therapeutic fasting", calorie restricted ketogenic diets and relatively cheap and safe drugs that target glycolysis, insulin and other cancer-specific metabolic pathways. The information in this book is valuable to patients and supported by extensive references. This book is technical (in parts), but the author has the ability to describe complicated processes with elegant simplicity.
I read this book immediately after reading "The Secret History of the War on Cancer" and "The Emperor of All Maladies". These are excellent books, but I found Dr. Seyfried's book to be more informative and empowering because it gives the reader clear evidence for the cause of cancer and highly effective strategies to prevent and treat the disease.
I would recommend this book to all cancer researchers, oncologists and layman interested in understanding the origin, management and treatment of cancer as a metabolic disease. This book will also be an extremely valuable resource for patients diagnosed with cancer.
Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, University of South Florida
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Would buy again
Aun así es interesante leer la información del Profesor Thomas Seyfried.
For patients, their family and friends: read starting with chapter 18, 21, 17, 19, 20, 21 (in that order) and then the rest, which handles the science behind all of the chapters 17-21.
Stop eating sugar and reduce all carbs as much as possible!

