Ukrain

Ukrain is an antitumor thiophosphoric agent, which is made from the root extract of the celandine large. It is widely known to use the extract of the roots of celandine in alternative medicine. It has a strong anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial action. Cancer treatment is one of the most complex and unpredictable processes. The cause of the onset of cancer is still not clearly defined. There are several versions. One of them presumes that this disease in older people is an irreversible process of aging. Among other causes - the effect of radiation, the constant exposure to ultraviolet rays, bad habits, namely, smoking, genetic disorders, irregular and irregular meals (especially when the diet is unbalanced, and also overcrowded with fatty, smoked, spicy, pickled products, semi-finished products), certain viruses , among which hepatitis B and C, promiscuous sex life (too frequent change of sexual partner, unprotected sex).

Ukrain slows the formation of new vessels that feed the tumor, that is, it has an anti-angiogenic property. Due to this, neoadjuvant (pre-operative) use of the drug causes encapsulation of tumors, thus facilitating their surgical removal.

Ukrain is also advertised as an antiviral, sedative, which prevents the formation of gallstones, as well as helping to get rid or alleviate liver disease and eye irritation.

Ukrain has the appearance of a bright yellow powder, and when dissolved, it turns into a yellow liquid with a bitter taste.

According to the American Cancer Society and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, there is no evidence that Ukrain is an effective cancer treatment.

Ukrain is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. On September 4, 2012, several people including Vasyl Novytskyi, the drug's developer, were arrested in Austria for distributing the drug under suspicion of commercial fraud. [1]

Indications Ukrain

Clinical trials have shown that the drug can have the highest efficacy in the presence of the following types of tumors in the patient:

• pancreas cancer,
• colorectal cancer, including rectum,
• stomach cancer,
• small cell and non-small cell lung cancer,
• mammary cancer,
• primary liver cancer,
• various types of sarcomas,
• melanoma,
• malignant tumors of the cervix and ovaries,
• cancer of the bladder,
• prostate cancer,
• kidney cancer,
• malignant tumors of the ENT organs. 

There are cases when patients with inoperable esophageal cancer who underwent a course of radiation therapy and three courses of chemotherapy without visible effects, after a definite course of treatment with the drug Ukrain achieved complete remission.

[2], [3]

Release form

The medicine looks like a powder of bright yellow color, and when dissolved, it turns into a yellow liquid with a bitter taste and smell of mown grass. But for convenience, the drug is available in the form of a solution for injection of 5 ml (5 mg) in ampoules. 1 ml of the solution contains thiophosphate derivatives of alkaloids of celandine large - 1.0 mg. 

Pharmacodynamics

Ukrain has not only cytostatic, but also cytolytic action against all 60 human cancer cell cultures that were used in the experiment (malignant tumors of the brain, colon, kidneys, ovaries, small and non-small cell lung cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma). Ukrain causes apoptosis in cultures of pancreatic cancer AsPC1, THP-1, Jurkat, BxPC3 and MIA PaCa2 after stopping the cell cycle in pro- and metaphase by stabilizing monomeric tubulin, while experiments on normal peripheral mononuclears showed no difference in the level of apoptosis and phases of cellular cycle. According to the results of the research, Ukrain selectively causes apoptosis, but does not harm normal cells. 

[4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

Pharmacokinetics

Within a few minutes after intravenous administration, the medicine accumulates in the tumor tissue, from where it slowly (within 2-3 weeks) is excreted by the kidneys. Experimental studies on animals indicate that Ukrain passes through the blood-brain barrier. A pilot study on healthy volunteers gave the following pharmacokinetic parameters: the area under the curve (AUC) was 24.70 mg ∙ min / l, the half-life (t1 / 2) was 27.55 min, the average volume of distribution (Vd) was 27 93 l, clearance (Cl) - 817 ml / min.

[12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]

Dosing and administration

Ukrain is administered intravenously. Treatment courses in Ukrain can be conducted both before the operation and after it. Simultaneous local application of radiotherapy does not affect the dosing regimen. Ukrain can be used in combination with both chemotherapy and adjuvant.

Experimental studies have shown that small doses of the drug (5 mg) have an immunomodulatory effect, large (20 mg) - malignogenic. Since after the injection, Ukrain quickly accumulates in tumor tissue and affects the immune system of patients in different ways, when applied, the dose is not determined based on body weight or body surface area, but is selected individually, depending on the patient's immune status. A single dose, depending on the mass of the tumor, the rate of its growth and spread, and on the state of the patient's immune system, is 5 to 20 mg. Injections are usually done twice a week for 5 weeks, followed by a 1-2-week pause. In some cases deviations from this scheme may be useful.

To determine the optimal dose in each case, you should start with a single dose of 5 mg. If there is a reaction to the administration of the drug, the dose remains constant. If the response to the administration of the drug is insignificant or absent, then the next day a single dose of Ukrain is increased by 5 mg, etc. Up to the largest single dose of 20 mg and carefully monitor the patient. There is evidence of the successful use of this scheme: 5 mg and 20 mg in turn, once a week. Treatment should be carried out not only before the period of complete remission of the tumor, but also before the period of disappearance of the reaction to the administration of the drug, but it should consist of not less than 9 courses. After this, it is necessary to conduct at least 6 courses of treatment with medication with pauses between individual series 2-4 months.

[30], [31], [32]

Use Ukrain during pregnancy

Despite the fact that until today no negative impact of Ukrain on the embryo has been detected, the drug should not be used during pregnancy. During therapy with the drug and after its termination, it is necessary to take care of reliable contraception. This is important for both female and male patients. If after the termination of treatment with the drug Ukrain the patient plans to have a child, first of all it is necessary to consult with a geneticist. At this time, it is not known whether Ukrain can enter breast milk. Therefore, you should also avoid taking the drug during breastfeeding.

Contraindications

Treatment of Ukrain is strongly discouraged during pregnancy and in febrile conditions. Volumetric processes in the central nervous system due to possible swelling of the tumor are subject only to inpatient treatment and increased close monitoring. For the treatment of children, the drug can only be used under medical supervision. Ukrain should not be administered concomitantly with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs, as this neutralizes its immunostimulating effect.

Ukrain should be used with caution in the following diseases: hyperthermia over 38 ° C, in children, with CNS tumors due to reversible swelling of the tumor that may occur. It is not recommended to carry out treatment with the drug Ukrain in the presence of cancer cough, at the terminal stage of the disease. 

[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24]

Side effects Ukrain

Studies conducted on volunteers without any diseases, did not reveal any side effect of Ukrain. Symptoms that arise in patients with tumors during treatment can be defined as concomitant phenomena of therapy caused by the products of tumor disintegration. They disappear if there is complete remission of the disease.

After the first injections, the following common side effects can occur: sleep disturbance, anxiety, apathy, weakness, depression, dizziness, diuresis, warmth in the body, increased sweating, stitching or drawing pains in the area of the tumor, itching. Sometimes, at the beginning of treatment, mild nausea can be felt. Swelling of the tumor and / or its compaction is also possible. The phenomena of this type are of an individual nature and indicate the effectiveness of treatment in Ukrain. They disappear as the tumor decreases. Even if the tumor can no longer be detected, treatment with the drug should be continued until the completion of the treatment.

[25], [26], [27], [28], [29]

Overdose

Cases of overdose are not fixed. Clinical studies have shown that a single dose of 50 mg and a total dose of 3,500 mg (obtained within 3 years) do not cause any signs of intolerance and the exploration of intoxication. In case of revealing any unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor who will be able to react quickly and competently to the patient's reaction to this medication. In this case, either the drug is canceled, or its dosage or reception scheme is changed in general.

[33], [34], [35], [36], [37]

Interactions with other drugs

Antidiabetics containing sulfur (for example, derivatives of sulfonylureas) can cause hypoglycemia and fainting, cardiac glycosides can lead to heart rhythm and conduction disorders, sulfonamides may lose their effect. Experiments on animals showed a weakening of the pharmacological action of morphine and its derivatives with simultaneous application with the drug Ukrain. Therefore, the decision to prescribe analgesics for this group must be taken in weighing all the factors and characteristics. Also, the interaction of the drug with sedative, antiepileptic and other drugs is not excluded.

[38], [39], [40], [41]

Storage conditions

The drug should be stored in a place protected from sunlight and light, and in places inaccessible to children. If as a result of prolonged storage of the drug Ukraina at low temperatures a precipitate forms, it can be re-dissolved by careful heating to 60 ° C and by shaking the ampoule. Be sure to monitor the expiration date of the drug. The use of an overdue medication may have very different pharmacological abilities and influence on the patient's organism, both locally and in general.

[42],

Special instructions

Analogues

At the moment there are no analogues of Ukrain. Treatment with alternative means based on the extract of celandine roots (especially prepared at home without compliance with technology) does not have the same medicinal properties as the drug Ukrain. Self-medication can adversely affect the health and development of the disease.

[43], [44], [45]

Shelf life

Shelf life of the drug Ukrain is 5 years, subject to compliance with storage rules, temperature conditions, lighting and other parameters of proper storage. After the expiration of this term, use the drug categorically prohibited. Therefore, you should carefully look at the date of manufacture of this drug when you buy it in a pharmacy, and especially if it has been lying at home for a long time. Do not forget that an unsuitable medication does not retain its medicinal qualities after the expiry date. 

[46]