• The Gonzalez regimen is a cancer treatment that includes taking pancreatic enzymes and other dietary supplements, eating a special diet, and having coffee enemas twice a day (see Question 1 ¹).



• The Gonzalez regimen is based on the theory that pancreatic enzymes help the body get rid of toxins (harmful substances) that lead to cancer (see Question 3 ²).



• Animal studies of the Gonzalez regimen looked at the effect of pancreatic enzymes on cancer growth (see Question 5 ³).



• In an early small study of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, patients on the Gonzalez regimen lived somewhat longer than most people with the same type of cancer (see Question 6 ⁴).



• The Gonzalez regimen trial was a 7-year clinical study that compared the effectiveness of standard treatment with that of the Gonzalez regimen in treating patients who had pancreatic cancer that could not be removed by surgery (see Question 6 ⁴).



• The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the Gonzalez regimen as a cancer treatment (see Question 8 ⁵).

Glossary Terms

Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.

A laboratory experiment using animals to study the development and progression of diseases. Animal studies also test how safe and effective new treatments are before they are tested in people.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

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.

The things a person eats and drinks.

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 injection of a liquid through the anus into the large bowel.

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

An alternative therapy that is being studied as a treatment for pancreatic cancer. It includes a special diet, nutritional supplements, pancreatic enzymes, and coffee enemas.

A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the tissues of the pancreas. Also called exocrine cancer.

A protein secreted by the pancreas that aids in the digestion of food.

In medicine, treatment that experts agree is appropriate, accepted, and widely used. Health care providers are obligated to provide patients with standard therapy. Also called best practice and standard of care.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

A poison produced by certain animals, plants, or bacteria.