Cancer can be suppressed by alkalizing the tumor microenvironment: the effectiveness of “alkalization therapy” in cancer treatment

Abstract Objectives The abnormal metabolism of cancer cells, referred to as the Warburg effect, creates acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) that can contribute to treatment resistance and cancer progression. “Alkalization therapy”, which involves dietary changes, aims to reduce acidity by lowering the potential renal acid load. This study aims to analyze 5-year survival rates of cancer patients undergoing alkalization therapy and compare survival rates among various urine pH levels. Methods A total of 1,100 patients with stage IV cancers who first visited Karasuma Wada Clinic between January 2014 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards model were used for statistical analyses. Results The overall 5-year survival rate was 37.7 %, including 7.9 % for pancreatic cancer, 44.3 % for breast cancer, and 48.6 % for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For pancreatic cancer, urine pH was the only significant prognostic factor, with a hazard ratio of 0.55 (95 % CI: 0.36–0.83, p=0.004). The 5-year survival rates of patients categorized by urine pH levels (pH≤5.5, 5.5<pH<7.5, and pH≥7.5) showed significant differences in patients with pancreatic and breast cancer (p<0.0001 and p=0.009, respectively). For NSCLC patients, a cutoff urine pH of 5.5 (≤5.5 vs. >5.5) showed a significant difference in overall survival (p=0.0434). Conclusions Alkalization therapy is a promising cancer treatment that complements standard therapies. Raising urine pH may optimize TME and enhance survival outcomes.