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Cancer patients treated with the Banerji protocols
utilising homoeopathic medicine: A Best Case Series
Program of the National Cancer Institute USA
PRASANTA BANERJI1, DONALD R. CAMPBELL2 and PRATIP BANERJI1
1

PB Homoeopathic Research Foundation, Kolkata, West Bengal, India;
Saint Luke's Hospital and University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA2

Received February 21, 2008; Accepted April 23, 2008

Abstract. Although many studies have been conducted on therole of alternative medicine in the treatment of cancer, only a
few reports have been published regarding the total regressionof malignant tumors. At the PBH Research Foundation(PBHRF), two of the authors have used homoeopathic therapy
to treat many patients with various malignant tumors. The
objective of the present study was to have their treatment
procedures evaluated and validated by the United States (US)National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best Case Series (BCS)
Program. Lung and oesophageal carcinoma patients weretreated with homoeopathic remedies at the PBHRF according
to Banerji's protocol until there was complete regression of
the tumors. Case records including pathology and radiology
reports for 14 patients were submitted for review by the US
NCI BCS Program. Four of these cases had an independentconfirmation of the diagnosis and radiographic response andwere accepted as sufficient information for the NCI to initiate
further investigation. These four cases are presented in detailin this report along with follow-up and outcome information.
This study describes the process and outcome of a selectedcase series review through the NCI BCS Program. The resultsof the review were deemed to be sufficient to warrant NCIinitiated prospective research follow-up in the form of anobservational study.
Introduction
Homoeopathy is a medical system whose underlying principle
is based on the theory that ‘like cures like’. Homoeopathic
medications are produced by using solutions of compounds
which, when ingested by healthy volunteers, produce symptom
complexes that mimic various diseases e.g., ingesting quininefrom cinchona bark induces symptoms similar to malaria (1).
These solutions are serially diluted and succussed until thedesired potency is produced. According to the World HealthOrganization (WHO), homoeopathy is the second most used
medical system internationally, accounting for more than
$1 billion in costs. Twenty to thirty percent of French andGerman physicians use homoeopathy in clinical practice as
cited by WHO, 2001. In Great Britain, 5 homoeopathic
hospitals are part of the National Health System and >30% ofgeneral practitioners use this type of treatment (2). In the
United States, >500 physicians use homoeopathy in clinicalpractice and 5.5 million Americans use homoeopathic
medicines (2-5).
Since 1991, the NCI has had a process for evaluating datafrom complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
practitioners that involves the same rigorous methods used in
evaluating treatment responses with conventional medicine.
This process, called the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best
Case Series (BCS) Program, provides an independent review
of medical records, medical imaging and pathology materials
from patients treated with unconventional cancer therapies (5).
The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (OCCAM) was established in October 1998 in order
to coordinate and enhance the activities of the NCI in thearena of CAM. The Practice Assessment Program within
OCCAM currently manages the NCI BCS Program (6,7).
Through this program, staff from OCCAM work with CAM
practitioners to identify appropriate, well-documented cases.
The primary goal of this program is to obtain and review
sufficient information to determine if NCI-initiated research ona specific intervention is warranted.
Patients and methods_________________________________________
Correspondence to: Dr Prasanta Banerji or Dr Pratip Banerji,
PBH Research Foundation, 10/3/1 Elgin Road, Kolkata 700020,
West Bengal, India
E-mail: pbhrfindia@dataone.in
Key words: homoeopathic medicines, lung and oesophageal
cancers, National Cancer Institute Best Case Series

Homoeopathy, like every scientific and efficient system of
medicine, has evolved through the years and the method used
to treat these cases is by specific medicines in specificpotencies as per what is known today as ‘The Banerji
Protocols’. Initially, we selected 14 cases among 300 cancer
patients who had been treated at the PBH Research Foundation(PBHRF) clinic in Kolkata (Calcutta), India for these studies.
Among these 14 cases, only 10 cases were selected for review
by the BCS Program. At that time we had in our records

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70

Table I. Four cases of the PB Homoeopathic Research Foundation approved by the NCI Best Case Series Program.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Case No.
Gender/age (y)First clinic visit
Disease type
Treatment
NCI BCS Program
review assessment–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1
Male/47
11/30/94
Malignant non-small
Kali Carbonicum
Evaluablecell lung carcinoma
200c 2 drops thrice
in a week and Ferrum
Phosphoricum
3x2 tablets
twice daily
2

Female/77

12/27/94

Small cell lungcarcinoma

Kali Carbonicum
200c a dose of 2 drops,
thrice in a week andFerrum Phosphoricum
3x2 tablets twice daily

Evaluable

3

Male/75

12/16/96

Moderately
differentiatedsquamous cell
oesophageal
carcinoma

Condurango 30c
a dose of 2 drops,
twice daily

Evaluable

4

Female/75

9/7/95Squamous cell
Condurango 30c
Evaluable
oesophageal
a dose of 2 drops,
carcinoma
twice daily–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1260 cases of different types of cancers of which complete
remission occurred in ~21% of cases following our treatment.
Examples of these responses can be reviewed by accessing aninternet user group (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/
Ruta6/) maintained by brain tumor patients where follow-up of>400 brain tumor cases from different countries, who have beentreated on Banerji protocols presently indicate that >70% of
patients are benefitting from treatment on our protocols. The
slides were reviewed by a pathologist at the PBHRF. The
selection criteria were as follows: a) recollection by PBHRF
physicians that the patient had an improvement in his/herclinical condition concurrent with treatment at the PBHRF
clinic; b) availability of the pathology report documenting thecancer diagnosis; and c) availability of medical imaging
reports documenting an objective regression in tumor size. The
relevant patient records were submitted to the OCCAM forreview through the NCI BCS Program. An initial review by
OCCAM of the documents from these cases indicated thatthese cases were eligible for further evaluation. The pathology
slides and medical imaging studies, which were performed at
the PBHRF, were requested and provided to the NCI for
review. The histology and cytology slides were reviewed by apathologist at the NCI Laboratory of Pathology and the
medical imaging studies were reviewed by a radiologist in the
Diagnostic Radiology Department (DRD) of the Warren G.
Magnuson Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health(NIH). After a complete review, these cases were presented
at a meeting of the Cancer Advisory Panel for Complementaryand Alternative Medicine (CAPCAM), a chartered committee

advising the Director of the NIH and the Director of the Officeof Alternative Medicine (OAM) on July 8, 1999.
Results
Summaries of the cases and relevant documentation from the
14 clinical patients who met the three selection criteria were
submitted to the NCI and reviewed by the director of the
OCCAM who is a medical oncologist. Table I summarizes theoutcomes of the review of these cases. Further information anddocumentation was requested to clarify the clinical course ofsome patients. Four cases were found to have confirmed
pathological diagnoses of cancer and adequate pre- and posttreatment medical imaging studies indicating a tumor response.
These cases are described below.
Case No. 1. A 47-year-old man presented to the clinic on
November 30, 1994. A previous chest X-ray (November 18,
1994) revealed a well-defined, large mass in the left upper
mediastinum with well-expanded lung fields and an area ofconsolidation in the left upper lobe (Fig. 1A). A computed
tomography (CT) scan (Fig. 1B) performed on Nov 19, 1994
showed an 8.0x6.4 cm well-defined, large, soft tissue mass ofhomogeneous density in the left upper mediastinum. A CT
guided fine need aspiration (FNA) of the superior mediastinal
mass was performed on November 24, 1994 and cytologicalsmears revealed clusters of cells having moderate pleomorphism, individual cells with homogeneous nuclei
chromatin, inconspicuous nucleolus and cytoplasm with

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71

Figure 1. Effect of homoeopathic remedies on lung cancer regression. (A) Chest X-ray exhibits a growth of malignant non-small cell lung carcinoma in theleft lung of a 47-year-old male patient. (B) A CT-scan of the chest of the same patient. (C) Histopathology slide of malignant non-small cell lung carcinoma
samples collected by FNA from the same patient. (D and E) Chest X-rays show complete regression of tumor growth. Arrow indicates the tumor.

vacuolations supporting the diagnosis of a malignant tumor(Fig. 1C). The NCI Laboratory of Pathology review
confirmed the malignancy and categorized it as an
adenocarcinoma. According to the American Joint
Committee on Cancer Staging (2002), the TNM
classification was T2NXM0 or Stage III cancer.
Treatment. The patient received Kali Carbonicum 200c, adose of 2 drops, 3 times a week and Ferrum Phosphoricum 3x,
2 tablets twice daily beginning on November 30, 1994 andthe treatment continued up to July, 1996. No adverse effectsof the therapy were noted. He did not receive conventional
cancer therapy.
Follow-up. After 2 months of treatment, the patient graduallybecame asymptomatic. On January 31, 1995 a chest X-ray
revealed considerable shrinkage of the mediastinal masscompared with the initial study. Progressive shrinkage wasdemonstrated on additional X-rays performed on July 5, 1995
and January 9, 1996 (Fig. 1D). On January 7, 1999, a chest
X-ray documented a complete resolution of the mediastinal
tumor (Fig. 2E). The patient returned to the clinic every 6months for follow-up and no reoccurrence has been noted.
The date of the last follow-up was September 11, 2006.
Case No. 2. A 77-year-old woman presented to the clinic on
September 12, 1994. A chest X-ray performed on December
27, 1994 revealed a wedge shape right upper lobar infiltratewith sharp linear margins. Interstitial markings were prominent

in the right lung field. Results of a follow-up chest X-ray on
January 9, 1995 demonstrated an unchanged peripheral
wedge shaped right upper lobe infiltrate that had an
inflammatory appearance. Findings on a January 9, 1995 chest
CT scan were initially reported as a dense irregular, lobulated
mass with shaggy margins in the posterior segment of the rightupper lobe and lateral segment of the right middle lobe fromthe base to the periphery suggestive of bronchogenic
carcinoma. The NIH DRD review did not describe a definitive
mass, although a peripheral wedge shaped defect with air
bronchograms was noted. A CT-guide FNA of this region of
the right lung was performed on January 9, 1995 and theinitial pathology report described a small cell type carcinomaof the lung. The NCI Laboratory of Pathology review laterreclassified this as an adenocarcinoma. According to theAmerican Joint Committee on Cancer Staging (2002), theTNM classification was T2NxM0 or Stage II cancer.
Treatment. The patient received Kali Carbonicum 200c, adose of 2 drops, 3 times a week and Ferrum Phosphoricum 3x,
2 tablets twice daily beginning on January 12, 1995 andtreatment continued up to September 1995. No adverse
effects of the therapy were noted. The patient did not receive
conventional cancer therapy.
Follow-up. After treatment, the patient became asymptomatic
after two months. A chest X-ray performed on March 24,
1995 revealed a complete resolution of the consolidation in theright mid zone, residual streaky opacity of fibrosis, adjacent69-74

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Figure 2. Effect of homoeopathic remedies on oesophageal cancer regression. (A) Barium meal-X-ray exhibits a large proximal filling defect with the dilated
portion of the oesophagus of a 75-year-old male patient representing a tumor. (B) A histopathology slide of oesophageal carcinoma samples collected byendoscopy from the same patient. (C) Barium meal-X-ray exhibits a complete regression of the disease. Arrow indicates the tumor.

pleural thickening and prominent bronchovascular markings.
An NIH DRD review of this film noted the continued presenceof a small wedge shaped lesion consistent with resolving
pneumonia. A chest X-ray performed on December 19, 1998
showed residual fibrotic scarring in the right upper lobe
though without active disease. The patient returned to theclinic every 6 months for follow-up examinations and thus far
no re-occurrence has been seen. The date of the last follow-up
was on December 24, 2003.
Case No. 3. A 75-year-old man presented to the clinic withdifficulty swallowing, dyspepsia and eructation for thepreceding 2 months. On October 17, 1996 an oesophagogram(Fig. 2A) showed a large proximal filling defect within the
dilated portion of the oesophagus representing a tumor or
another obstruction when reviewed by the NIH/DRD. An
endoscopy performed on November 29, 1996, confirmed atumor with the proximal end 22 cm into the oesophagus
extending to the gastroesophageal junction and causing

luminal narrowing. An oesophageal biopsy was performed on
December 6, 1996 and the initial report described moderately
differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (Fig. 2B). The NCI
Laboratory of Pathology review of this specimen confirmed
the diagnosis of a malignancy, though reclassified it as an
adenocarcinoma. According to the American Joint Committee
on Cancer Staging (2002), the TNM classification was as T(>10 cm long) N0M0 or Stage IV disease.
Treatment. This patient received Condurango 30c, a dose of
2 drops, twice daily beginning on December 16, 1996 and thetreatment continued up to April, 1998. No adverse effects ofthe therapy were noted. He did not receive conventional cancer
therapy.
Follow up. An oesophagogram was performed on October 17,
1996 which showed a large irregular filling defect in theupper half of the oesophagus suggestive of a malignant growth.
A repeat study dated July 12, 1997 noted a considerable

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improvement in the patency of the oesophagus compared tothe previous oesophagogram dated 17 October, 1996. The NIH
DRD review of the films from October 17, 1996 and July 12,1997 studies noted a persistent though smaller defect in theproximal oesophagus at the site of the previously identified
mass with a reduction in the degree of obstruction and return
to a normal diameter of the distal oesophagus (Fig. 2C). The
patient gradually became asymptomatic and is currently ingood health, with no symptoms of dysphagia since July, 1997.
The last date of follow-up was in December 1998.
Case No. 4. A 75-year-old woman presented to the clinic withdifficulty swallowing and regurgitation of food and fluids
while eating for the preceding 3 months. A barium
oesophagogram on August 19, 1995 was attempted but notcompleted due to obstruction. X-ray results showed a grossfilling defect at the mid and lower third of the oesophagus withcomplete obstruction at the lower third of the oesophagus. The
NIH DRD review of this film confirmed the presence of ahigh grade obstruction in the upper oesophagus with anabrupt cut off of the barium column. To permit enteralfeedings, the patient underwent a jejunostomy on August 21,
1995. An endoscopic oesophageal biopsy was performed on
August 28, 1995. The original pathological report describedfeatures suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. The NCI
Laboratory of Pathology review of the specimen revealed
adenocarcinoma. Due to the patient's poor general condition,
no attempt was made at oesophageal dilatation. According to
the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging (2002), theTNM classification was T 2N xM 1 or Stage IIIb possibly
Stage IV cancer.
Treatment. The patient received Condurango 30c, 2 drops,
twice daily beginning on September 7, 1995 and the treatment
continued up to May, 1996. No adverse effects of the therapy
were noted. She did not receive conventional cancer therapy.
Follow-up. A barium oesophagogram X-ray was performed on
October 12, 1995. The initial report indicated that the contrast
media passed freely through the oesophagus with a narrowing
at the cardiac end. A curling oesophagus with a diverticula
formation was also noted. The NIH DRD review of the film
revealed a patent oesophagus with secondary and tertiary
contractions suggesting dysmotility though without evidenceof a mass or mucosa irregularity. However, the NIH radiologist
recommended that an annular oesophageal cancer could bepresent but not visible given the limited nature of the study(2 views only). The patient gradually became asymptomaticsince November 1995 with improvement in the dysphagia. The
jejunostomy tube was removed on October 12, 1995. The
patient returned to the clinic every 6 months for follow-up
examinations and no reoccurrence has been seen. The last dateof follow-up was January 1999.
Discussion
Classical homoeopathy uses an extensive patient interview toelicit symptoms and personal characteristics to determine themost appropriate single homoeopathic preparation for thatpatient (3). The use of a specific homoeopathic medicine for73

the treatment of a single allopathic diagnosis has been studiedin several clinical trials aimed at assessing the validity of theseapproaches in clinical practice (1,8-11). However, the use ofhomoeopathic regimens in the treatment of cancer is lesswell studied (12). Well-designed prospective, randomized,
controlled, clinical trials critically evaluating the efficacy of
homeopathic therapy for the treatment of cancer have notbeen performed. Published results from two, well-controlled
trials provide the rationale for further investigation of certain
homoeopathic preparations in combination with standard
therapy for the management of some side effects of conventional cancer therapy (13,14).
Another randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
performed in Italy included 66 patients with breast cancer who
were undergoing chest wall radiotherapy (15). Patients
received homoeopathically-prepared belladonna or placebo to
determine the effects of therapy on radio-dermatitis. There wasa non-significant trend in favour of the belladonna preparation
during radiotherapy as well as a significant benefit during thepost-radiotherapy recovery period. However the use of a small
number of patients as well as a non-validated scale to measureradio-dermatitis weakened the findings of this study.
Several case reports of homoeopathic treatments of cancer
have also been published (12). Other homoeopathic physicians
have published cases describing their experiences in thetreatment of cancer patients (6,7,16). Due to the lack ofprospective research or rigorously documented and reported
retrospective case studies of the use of so-called ‘alternative
therapies’ for cancer treatment, the NCI developed a program
to systematically evaluate retrospective case report data andidentify interventions for which there is sufficient evidence tojustify NCI-initiated prospective research. The four major
criteria for an optimal case submission to this program are:a) definitive diagnosis of cancer at the time the patient
received the therapy in question; b) documentation of disease
response; c) absence of confounders such as concurrent or
recent conventional anticancer therapy; and d) documented
treatment history.
This report represents the first detailed description of theresults of a review of cases by the NCI. The therapies received
by these patients included Kali Carbonicum and Ferrum
Phosphoricum for lung cancer and Condurango for oesophageal cancer. Homoeopathic remedies are derived from avariety of substances from plants, minerals and animals.
Dilutions of soluble substances are succussed serially to form
a mother tincture from which the desired potency is achieved.
One part of the mother tincture is mixed with 99 parts of 87%
alcohol and succussed to achieve 1C potency in thecentesimal scale (1:100). Decimal potencies (1 to 10 or X
potencies) are often formed and are weaker than centesimalpotencies (17). The homoeopathic preparations used in thesecases are not commonly used in classical homoeopathic
practice for the treatment of patients with lung cancer.
Characteristically, patients in this clinic receive otherhomoeopathic prescriptions for the management of specificsymptoms (e.g. pain, haemoptysis, nausea and vomiting).
Unlike other centres in India, the frequency of similar positive
outcomes by patients with cancer at this centre in India is clear.
Four case studies out of 12 were initially presented to theNCI BCS Program in 1999 and underwent independent

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confirmation of the diagnosis and radiographic response. The
entire case series was also reviewed and commented on by theCancer Advisory Panel for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine. Based on the positive outcomes seen in these casestudies, several questions have arisen that have warranted
further study. Notably, could the results be replicated and if
so what is their frequency? Furthermore, how could aworkable protocol be developed to study the use of thisapproach to homoeopathic management in a prospective
clinical trial of a specific type and stage of cancer? In
addition, several variables needed to be addressed to ensure
validity and reliability of future findings. These areas include
providing consistent quality of the pathology and imaging,
improvement of patient follow-up, which was inconsistentbecause of travel issues and incorporating a formal computerized data management system. The greatest barrier toaddressing these issues is the significant financial support
required due to the extreme poverty in the area where theclinic operates.
In conclusion, this report describes the process andoutcome of a selected case series review via the NCI BCSProgram. The results of the review were deemed to be
sufficient to warrant an NCI-initiated prospective researchfollow-up in the form of an observational study. A protocol forthe conduct of this study has been approved by the NCI
Special Studies institutional review board and an application
for approval of this project has been submitted to the IndianCouncil for Medical Research.
Acknowledgements
We thank Drs Jeffrey D. White, Peter Choyke and Paul Duray,for reviewing the X-rays, CT-scan plates and histopathologicalslides, respectively, on behalf of the NCI. We would also liketo acknowledge the contributions of Dr Satadal Das, inreview of the histopathological slides at the PBHRF and
Gobinda Chandra Das, for help in preparing the manuscript.
We dedicate this study to the memory of Ms. Krishna Banerji.
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