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Page 38
| 1. By producing certain blocking factors that allow the tumor cell to go unrecognized by the immune system. |
| 2. By producing immunosuppressing prostaglandins such as PGE-2. Cancer causes the failure of certain enzymes to transform healthy fatty acids into healthy rumor-suppressing prostaglandins. That failure marks a shift toward more unhealthy prostaglandins that actually assist in tumor growth. |
| 3. By producing immunosuppressing cytokines or other angiogenic factors that lead to an increase in vascular permeability and eventually an increase in coagulation disorders. This is why we often see an increase in platelet count along with platelet aggregation, causing blood to clot in an abnormal fashion if cancer is progressing and spreading. |
| Many natural compounds can intercept tumor development by inhibiting some of these pathways. For instance, natural agents found in plants are commonly used to fight cancer by inhibiting fibrin production, platelet aggregation, and PAF. Specific natural agents and their functions will be discussed in chapters 4 and 5. |
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