Skeptics of cartilage pills say sharks really do get cancer

(San Francisco-AP) -- Actually, sharks do get cancer. <br><br>This discovery challenges a small industry that's been based on the belief that shark cartilage contains some sort of cancer-fighting

Wednesday, April 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(San Francisco-AP) -- Actually, sharks do get cancer.

This discovery challenges a small industry that's been based on the belief that shark cartilage contains some sort of cancer-fighting substance.

Dozens of brands of shark cartilage supplements are promoted as treatments for cancer, arthritis and aging.

One of the chief contentions behind this type of marketing is the idea that sharks don't get cancer.

Well, they do.

A scientist at George Washington University says there are dozens of cases of sharks contracting cancer, including kidney cancer and lymphoma blood cancer.

An earlier study concluded that shark cartilage pills were ineffective in 47 patients with advanced cases of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer.

A much larger study will begin later this year at the Mayo Clinic.

On the Net:
American Association for Cancer Research: http://www.aacr.org
National Cancer Institute: http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/index.html