EU warns against unproven cancer treatments online

European medicines regulators are warning the public about unproven cancer treatments being advertised online. These therapies are often marketed by shady clinics or companies that promise miraculous results. These unregulated treatments include advanced therapies that use genes, tissues, or cells, which are sometimes called cancer vaccines. In the EU, these therapies must have approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or be part of a clinical trial. Recently, several clinics have begun offering these therapies directly to patients without proven safety or effectiveness. The EMA highlighted dendritic cell therapies, which aim to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Such treatments are often promoted online as a "last hope" for desperate patients. The EMA warned that these therapies could be contaminated or poorly made, leading to serious side effects without improving health outcomes. Patients may also suffer financial losses and emotional distress from ineffective treatments. This is not the first time the EMA has raised concerns; it has previously warned about other unproven therapies. The agency pointed out a recent case involving a Spanish company that sold illegal dendritic cell treatments to hundreds of cancer patients, making millions. The EMA is currently working with law enforcement across several countries to address these practices. They advise that if a therapy is labeled as "experimental" but offered outside of a clinical trial, or if the company refuses to confirm its authorization, it may be unregulated. The EMA emphasizes the need for caution when encountering treatments advertised online or on social media.