Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) is a therapeutic modality used by some physicians to treat cancer and other diseases, using insulin in combination with other drugs, including chemotherapy agents. IPT dates from 1930, and has been in use continuously since by a small, but now rapidly growing number of doctors. Currently more than 100 physicians in 22 countries have IPT certification. IPT is not yet accepted by the medical mainstream, although several scientific studies, and one small clinical trial for breast cancer, appear to support its claims.

One theory about how IPT works for treating cancer is that, since at least some types of cancer cells have far more insulin receptors than normal cells, insulin tricks them into more rapidly absorbing chemotherapy drugs from the blood. Another theory is that insulin stimulates more of the cancer cells to start growing and dividing, thus making them more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy. As a result, lower doses of chemotherapy agents are used, with significantly fewer toxic effects to the patient. IPT induces a temporary lowering of the patient's blood sugar, which is thought to also aid chemotherapy uptake and effectiveness.

Physicians using this method have claimed dramatic results with few or no side effects. This type of treatment is not experimental in the usual sense, but is an "off-label" use of existing agents. Rigorous clinical studies still need to be performed to prove the effectiveness of IPT.

The principal proponent of this technique is Dr. Donato Perez Garcia (1958-), grandson of the discoverer, Dr. Donato Perez Garcia (1896-1971), who claims that IPT is especially effective with breast cancer. He suggests that it is also effective with a number of other cancers, including small-cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. Essentially, if a cancer can be significantly affected by existing chemotherapy drugs, then insulin potentiation therapy may be effective, without major side effects.

The original, largest, and most comprehensive website about IPT: http://IPTQ.com

Listings for doctors who have IPT training: http://GetIPT.com

A critical perspective is found at http://www.quackwatch.org