This complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use of Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup as an anticancer treatment. The summary includes a brief history of Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup and a review of animal and human studies. The information in the Human/Clinical Studies ¹ section is summarized in a table located at the end of that section.

This summary contains the following key information:

• “Selected Vegetables” and “Sun’s Soup” are names given to several different mixtures of vegetables and herbs that have been studied as treatments for cancer. These mixtures were developed by a single individual.



• At present, two formulations of Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup are marketed in the United States as dietary supplements.



• The vegetables and herbs in Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup are thought to have anticancer and/or immune-system –stimulating properties.



• It has been reported that treatment with Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup lengthened the survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer or other types of malignant tumors. However, different formulations of Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup were used in the studies reported to date, making the comparison of results across studies difficult, and design weaknesses in the studies raise doubts about the reliability of the findings.



• Additional clinical studies of Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup are being conducted or contemplated.

Many of the medical and scientific terms used in the summary are hypertext linked (at first use in each section) to the NCI Dictionary ², which is oriented toward nonexperts. When a linked term is clicked, a definition will appear in a separate window. All linked terms and their corresponding definitions will appear in a glossary in the printable version of the summary.

Reference citations in some PDQ CAM information summaries may include links to external Web sites that are operated by individuals or organizations for the purpose of marketing or advocating the use of specific treatments or products. These reference citations are included for informational purposes only. Their inclusion should not be viewed as an endorsement of the content of the Web sites, or of any treatment or product, by the PDQ Cancer CAM Editorial Board or the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Glossary Terms

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical trial.

Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices generally are not considered standard medical approaches. Standard treatments go through a long and careful research process to prove they are safe and effective, but less is known about most types of CAM. CAM may include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. Also called CAM.

A product that is added to the diet. A dietary supplement is taken by mouth, and usually contains one or more dietary ingredient (such as vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, and enzyme). Also called nutritional supplement.

The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infections and other diseases.

Cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Research using animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful. Preclinical studies take place before any testing in humans is done.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.