Pseudoscience - an activity resembling science but based on fallacious assumptions [WordNet 2.0 – Cognitive Science Laboratory, Princeton University]
The Pseudoscience of Shark Cartilage
The rising popularity of shark cartilage extract as an anti-cancer treatment is a triumph of marketing and pseudoscience over reason, with a tragic fallout for both sharks and humans
Shark cartilage is currently marketed as a dietary supplement aimed at increasing the strength and effectiveness of bones and joints (the largest supplier brand is probably BeneFin). It’s also marketed as a cancer cure (Newswise) or a “treatment for cancer.”
BeneFin advertises that it “may be effective in helping arthritis and cancer.” Realife, an often quoted and linked website, is replete with much “information” on topics such as angiogenesis, cancer, arthritis and even psoriasis as they each relate to shark cartilage supplements. One of their chief sources of “information” is Dr. L. William Lane, who wrote Sharks Don’t Get Cancer. Lane is also the patent holder for “shark bone” and has the company linked above: BeneFin.
Apparently, the Food and Drug Administration1 and the Federal Trade Commission2 both applied restrictions on Lane and BeneFin from stating that "BeneFin or any other shark cartilage product prevents, treats or cures cancer."
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology3 concluded: "Shark cartilage was inactive in patients with advanced stages of cancer, specifically in breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer." The study was sponsored by Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, Cartilage Technologies (a manufacturer), and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. A few months later, Cartilage Technologies announced that it would support no additional research on shark cartilage as a cancer remedy.
As it turns out, Lane got it wrong: sharks do get cancer4. In fact, Gary Ostrander, Hopkins professor of biology and comparative medicine, cites were able to find 40 cases of tumors in sharks and related fishes like skates and rays. NewsWise has quoted Ostrander as stating, Since shark cartilage has been promoted as a cancer cure, not only has there has been a measurable decline in shark populations, but cancer patients also have been diverted from proven, effective treatments 5.”
The shark cartilage industry is but one example of the dangers of pseudoscience to the general public and the environment.
1. Ellsworth, DI (9/24/97). Letter to Andrew Lane, President of Lane Laboratories.
2. USA (12/10/99) FDA takes action against firm marketing unapproved drug. Talk Paper T99-56.
3. Miller DR et al (1998). Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 16(11): 3649-3655.
4. Henderson, Charles W. (4/18/2000). Discovery of Shark Cancers Casts More Doubt on Cartilage Pills. Cancer
Weekly [via RxNews]
5. NewsWise (11/24/2004). Shark Cartilage Cancer "Cure" Shows Danger of Pseudoscience.
The Pseudoscience of Shark Cartilage
The rising popularity of shark cartilage extract as an anti-cancer treatment is a triumph of marketing and pseudoscience over reason, with a tragic fallout for both sharks and humans
Shark cartilage is currently marketed as a dietary supplement aimed at increasing the strength and effectiveness of bones and joints (the largest supplier brand is probably BeneFin). It’s also marketed as a cancer cure (Newswise) or a “treatment for cancer.”
BeneFin advertises that it “may be effective in helping arthritis and cancer.” Realife, an often quoted and linked website, is replete with much “information” on topics such as angiogenesis, cancer, arthritis and even psoriasis as they each relate to shark cartilage supplements. One of their chief sources of “information” is Dr. L. William Lane, who wrote Sharks Don’t Get Cancer. Lane is also the patent holder for “shark bone” and has the company linked above: BeneFin.
Apparently, the Food and Drug Administration1 and the Federal Trade Commission2 both applied restrictions on Lane and BeneFin from stating that "BeneFin or any other shark cartilage product prevents, treats or cures cancer."
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology3 concluded: "Shark cartilage was inactive in patients with advanced stages of cancer, specifically in breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer." The study was sponsored by Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, Cartilage Technologies (a manufacturer), and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. A few months later, Cartilage Technologies announced that it would support no additional research on shark cartilage as a cancer remedy.
As it turns out, Lane got it wrong: sharks do get cancer4. In fact, Gary Ostrander, Hopkins professor of biology and comparative medicine, cites were able to find 40 cases of tumors in sharks and related fishes like skates and rays. NewsWise has quoted Ostrander as stating, Since shark cartilage has been promoted as a cancer cure, not only has there has been a measurable decline in shark populations, but cancer patients also have been diverted from proven, effective treatments 5.”
The shark cartilage industry is but one example of the dangers of pseudoscience to the general public and the environment.
Gary Ostrander said:
1. Ellsworth, DI (9/24/97). Letter to Andrew Lane, President of Lane Laboratories.
2. USA (12/10/99) FDA takes action against firm marketing unapproved drug. Talk Paper T99-56.
3. Miller DR et al (1998). Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 16(11): 3649-3655.
4. Henderson, Charles W. (4/18/2000). Discovery of Shark Cancers Casts More Doubt on Cartilage Pills. Cancer
Weekly [via RxNews]
5. NewsWise (11/24/2004). Shark Cartilage Cancer "Cure" Shows Danger of Pseudoscience.