From Early Cancer Detection to Personalized, Integrative Cancer Treatment
This blog article is part 2 of our two-part article series on Cancer.
If you missed part 1, in our first blog of this series, Rethinking Cancer: The Seed and Soil Approach, we explored the seed and soil concept, a terrain-based approach to cancer. This concept suggests that cancer isn’t left up to bad luck or genetics; it begins when the internal environment of the body becomes unbalanced, mainly because of external environmental exposures that disrupt homeostasis in the body.
Some factors that create the perfect conditions for cancer to develop are:
- Chronic inflammation
- Toxic burden
- Viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic persistence
- Mold and actinobacteria exposures
- Mitochondrial hypometabolism
- Metabolic dysfunction
- Hormone and immune disruption
But understanding why cancer happens is only half the journey.
The next step is knowing how to identify cancer early, test intelligently, and design therapies that not only target the tumor —the seed —but also transform the soil —the body.
At in2GREAT, we don’t just focus on the cancer itself. We study it, track it, learn its behaviors and address the entire environment (internal and external) that allows it to grow. This means we look at all the factors that could be contributing to the cancer, from lifestyle, diet, and all the way to genetic predispositions.
We then work to create a balanced, healthy internal environment that is less conducive to cancer growth.
Understanding Cancer’s Hallmarks and Pathways
Cancer is a complex disease, involving multiple dynamics and biological processes which enable it to grow, evade destruction, and spread. At in2GREAT, we follow some key hallmarks, essentially, the strategies cancer cells use to survive and metastasize. We look at these hallmarks as guideposts. They tell us how cancer behaves, where the weak points are, and what we need to restore in the terrain.
The 11 Hallmarks of Cancer
Sustaining proliferative signaling:
Normally, healthy cells rely on growth factors, messenger proteins and exosomes that tell them when to divide or repair and what their neighbor is doing and how it should behave or what it should prepare for. Cancer cells alter their internal wiring, allowing them to grow without relying on those signals. They become self-sufficient, creating their own continuous growth messages and environment, which lets them expand uncontrollably. They essentially revert to ancient survival mechanisms which is, survive at all costs!
Evading growth suppressors:
They bypass natural mechanisms that stop cell division by developing strategic cellular mutations and environmental encapsulation, impossible for the immune system to to even get to it, let alone eradicate it.
Resisting cell death (apoptosis):
Cancer cells avoid programmed self-destruction. Once the cells ancient survival mechanisms are turned on, the now loose the proper mitochondrial and genetic expression ability to properly expire. They are able to accomplish this through sophisticated strategies inside and outside of the cell.
Enabling replicative immortality:
They accomplish this by reactivating telomorases, which maintains and extends telomere length and enables cellular immortality. This allows them to proliferate or grow indefinitely.
Inducing angiogenesis:
Because cancer cells survive in hypoxic or low oxygen environments and rely on blood flow for nutrients – they send signals out to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels towards to cancer cells in order to supply tumors with nutrients needed for rapid replication.
Activating invasion and metastasis:
They spread to other parts of the body through multiple mechanisms. Once being through angiogenesis mentioned above, another being through activation of certain genetic pathway expression like cMETS, KISS-1-r, MMPs and others.
Deregulating cellular energetics:
Cancer cells alter metabolism to fuel growth (Warburg effect), by having the ability to morph the type of fuel it uses – the cell has become adaptable to survive many environments.
Avoiding immune destruction:
They evade immune system attacks by building an external environment around a cluster of cells – almost like a “forcefield” making it impossible to get to the primary tumor. This external atmosphere around the tumor makes it very hard to treat the seed. Therefore, we have to build and use strategies to puncture holes in the external tumor environment allowing immune system and other approaches to get to the tumor or cells themselves
Genome instability and mutation:
They accumulate mutations that promote survival and adaptation. There is an intelligence allowing the cells to learn and mutate. This is the ancient survival mechanism in full force. There are numerous genetic expressions that help us understand that like MDR1.
Tumor-promoting inflammation:
Chronic inflammation supports cancer progression, regardless of where it is coming from – this is why we have to take a full look at the entire clinical picture of a patient to understand the terrain and what is triggering the inflammation
Collapsed cell membrane potential/bioelectrical failure:
Disrupted cellular signaling contributes to dysfunction. This is the primary premise of how a healthy cell turns into an un-healthy or cancer cell in the first place. If the cell becomes stressed or threatened and the electrical gradient of the cell membrane from inside to outside changes too much – the process of turning into cancer cells begins by a mild shift in the electrical gradient.
A major component of individualized cancer care
We take time to listen to your biology so that we can take a systematic, step-by-step approach to understanding each person’s cancer process.
Our goal is not only to confirm whether cancer is present, but to learn:
- How it behaves
- How fast it’s growing
- How it communicates
- How does it receive nutrients to thrive
- How it detoxifies
- How it interacts with your body’s terrain
- How out of balance is the overall terrain in the first place and what is it going to take to restore that healthy soil or terrain
Each phase of the testing approach we take builds upon the next, providing a comprehensive picture of your unique biology, which enables us to design targeted, integrative, and effective therapies.
Advanced Cancer Testing to Guide Personalized Cancer Care
At in2GREAT, we utilize cutting-edge tests that analyze cancer genetics and tendency in vivo (in the body) , circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and their behaviors—known as onconomics all through a non-invasive procedure called liquid biopsy. The insights help us understand not only the tumor but also how cancer cells interact with the body’s environment and direct our therapeutic approach, focusing on re-engineering the body’s environment rather than simply killing cancer cells. Our goal is to restore balance and resilience to the whole system.
STEP 1:
Early Detection, Preventive Insight
Every personalized cancer journey at in2GREAT, or even every prevention plan, begins with a test called the RGCC Onco D-Clare. This highly sensitive screening analyzes the blood for cancer-associated gene expression of the immune system reacting too or recognizing possible cancerous physiology, providing early detection and proactive insight into your health long before a CTCs or a tumor mass is detected.
For prevention, when the RGCC Onco D-Clare results are negative, as is often the case for our wellness patients, we recommend that they run a RGCC Onco D-Clare every 6-12 months as part of their proactive terrain check-up based on their entire case and history.
However, there are times the RGCC Onco D-Clare result will come back positive, indicating there is an immune response to possible proliferative or cancerous activity. When this is the case, we proceed to more in-depth, specific testing to establish a biological baseline.
RGCC Onco D-Clare is the first layer of surveillance, often detecting immune and cellular imbalances long before a mass appears on imaging.
STEP 2:
CTCs/ The Liquid Biopsy
If the RGCC Onco D-Clare result is positive, we immediately advance to RGCC Oncotrace, a non-invasive liquid biopsy that measures and characterizes circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This test allows us to track cancer cell behavior without disturbing a tumor or risking metastasis.
- A count of 0 is ideal.
- A count of 2 or more indicates active tumor shedding and signals the need for further functional testing.
Unlike a traditional tissue biopsy, which can cause inflammation or spread, this blood-based test provides critical data without risk of complications.
We also use the RGCC Oncotrace test for ongoing monitoring, to track progress, detect remission stability, and prevent recurrence.
By repeating the test every few months, we can see whether circulating tumor cells are decreasing, remaining dormant, or rising again, long before imaging would detect any change. This provides us with an early window of opportunity to adjust therapies, reinforce terrain support, and maintain the body in a state of remission.
STEP 3:
Precision Therapy Mapping
When the CTC count is ≥2, we generally will reflex to the next stage of testing, the RGCC Onconomics Plus, one of the most powerful tools in our cancer assessment toolbox.
This test evaluates how your cancer cells behave and respond to both:
- Conventional anti-cancer agents (chemotherapy, targeted drugs, biologics, radiation), and
- Natural and plant-derived substances (botanicals, nutrients, extracts) and,
- Helps us understand how the cancer inside of you as an individual is expressing itself. The gene expression and activity of the tumor cells themselves
By assessing the unique sensitivities of the captured CTCs, we can design a completely individualized treatment plan that combines science, nature, and the best of both worlds. We can have a high level of confidence how to design a protocol to have precision accuracy for the current state of the tumor cells found.
This is true integrative medicine, where conventional oncology meets functional medicine and personalized biology.
RGCC Onconomics Plus:
One of the most powerful tools in our cancer assessment toolbox
This PDF is an example result of a RGCC OconomicsPlus test. We use the data to understand how responsive the cancer cells would be to specific therapies, which provides scientific guidance towards our personalized integrative approach.
Our Functional & Integrative Cancer Pillars
The hallmarks and pathways of cancer we discussed previously, like unchecked cell growth, angiogenesis, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, and chronic inflammation, aren’t abstract “woo woo” ideas; they are scientific concepts that we can back up and monitor with lab biomarkers. They’re the biological targets we actively measure, monitor, and address in every patient’s plan.
At in2GREAT, our therapy protocols are designed to counteract each of these hallmarks, restoring balance in the very pathways that cancer hijacks.
This is where data meets design: where we use your lab results and formulate precise, comprehensive, individualized care.
Every cancer protocol we build rests on five synergistic pillars, each strategically mapped to disrupt specific cancer hallmarks while rebuilding the body’s natural healing systems.
More on each of these pillars below.
PILLAR 1:
Targeted Cytotoxic Therapies (“Kill-on-Contact” Agents)
Directly attack and destroy cancer cells (the seed) while minimizing harm to healthy cells.
A few examples:
- IV Curcumin, IV Resveratrol
- High-dose Vitamin C
- Artesunate / Artemisinin
- Frankincense / Boswellia
- Naltrexone
- DCA (Dichloroacetate)
- Certain Mushroom strains
PILLAR 2:
Immune Activation & Modulation
Cancer thrives when the immune system is distracted, suppressed, or exhausted.
We work to retrain it.
Therapies include:
- Dendritic cell therapy
- Q-Restrain therapy/ SOT
- Ozone & EBOO (extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation)
- Peptides such as Thymosin α1, LL-37, PNC-27
- Mushroom extracts (Reishi, Cordyceps, Agaricus)
- Mistletoe therapy
- ECHO 7 Therapy (Oncolytic Virus)
PILLAR 3:
Metabolic & Pathway Inhibition
Cancer hijacks metabolic pathways (such as mTOR, PI3K, RAS, and EGFR). We block those signals and starve the tumor of its “fuel.”
A few examples of Supports include:
- EGCG (green tea extract), Curcumin, Apigenin
- Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) and DIM
- Melatonin, IP6
- Metabolic rebalancing diet approach: Intermittent fasting and/or therapeutic ketogenic diet protocols
PILLAR 4:
Ongoing Monitoring & Adaptive Rotation
Cancer is dynamic. Cancer is smart. It mutates and evolves.
The therapeutic approach to addressing cancer requires us to stay one (or ten) steps ahead.
That’s why we rotate therapies regularly and retest using RGCC monitoring tools, such as D-Clare and Oncotrace. Tracking circulating tumor cells over time provides real-time insight into treatment response and recurrence risk, allowing us to adapt quickly and stay ahead of the disease.
PILLAR 5:
Beyond the Tumor: Addressing Underlying Triggers, Terrain Rebuilding
As we have mentioned already, cancer doesn’t just develop because of bad luck, “bad” karma, out of the blue. It’s always the symptom of deeper biological imbalances and underlying issues. As a team of functional medicine practitioners, we are always investigating and correcting any underlying drivers, because if you don’t address the underlying issues, you can’t rebuild a healthy terrain. Our goal is to repair the “soil” that allowed cancer to take root.
Comprehensive Integrative Therapies
Our care model can include:
Oral supplementation: Targeted nutrients and immune modulators. Specifically identified by the proper testing from RGCC.
Immune modulation and biological therapies: Such as Q-Restrain therapy/ Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT), Dendritic cell therapy
Personalized chemotherapy and radiation: Dialed in based on testing and patient preferences.
Oxidative therapies: Such as EBOO & Ozone IVs and High Dose Vit C, Resveratrol and EGCG.
Nutritional, Herbal and Homeopathic IVs Such as, High dose Vitamin C, IV Curcumin, IV Quercetin, IV Resveratrol, IV Methylene Blue, IV Artusunate, Mistletoe
Photodynamic IV therapy
Metabolic Glucose Blocking: Artesunate, Frankincense, DCA
Repurposed/Off-label drugs: Such as LDN, Ivermectin, and Cholestyramine
Fucoidan, Medicinal Mushrooms
Peptides therapies: such as LL-37, Thymulin, TA1, PNC-27, SS-31, PN5
Drainage and detox support
Hormone balancing: Correcting disruptions that may fuel cancer growth.
Supporting cellular and mitochondrial health
Routine lab testing: Monthly and quarterly monitoring to track progress.
Personalized dietary guidance: To optimize metabolic health and support healing.
Cancer is smart, but so are we.
Through intelligent testing, precise therapies, and terrain-centered healing, we don’t just fight cancer; we help the body reclaim balance, vitality, and freedom.
Our Mission: Smarter, Kinder, More Complete Cancer Care
Conventional oncology focuses on shrinking tumors.
At in2GREAT, we focus on changing the terrain that allows the tumor to grow through data, precision, and whole-person care.
Whether you’re walking the integrative path alongside conventional treatment or opting for a 100% natural approach, we design protocols that are intelligent, adaptive, and uniquely tailored to you.
Because cancer care isn’t just about fighting disease, it’s about restoring balance, building strength, and rebuilding the terrain that allows for long term healing.
The Full Circle: From Testing to Healing the Terrain
What began in our first blog as a shift in perspective, from treating the seed to healing the soil, now comes full circle. Each test, therapy, and protocol we use at in2GREAT is designed not just to track or kill cancer cells, but to restore the internal terrain so that cancer cannot return or even grow in the first place.
Because when you repair the soil, the BAD-seed has nowhere to grow.
Whether you’re walking this path alongside conventional oncology or seeking an integrative, whole-person alternative, our mission is the same: to bring intelligence, compassion, and precision to cancer care, from early detection to long-term terrain restoration. When you understand the behavior and nature of this disease – it becomes much less threatening and scary – which in and of itself is a major ingredient in the recipe of remission and recovery. When operating in fear – that ingredient will ruin every recipe!
Our approach at in2GREAT is that cancer care isn’t just about fighting disease, it’s about restoring balance and rebuilding resilience to the body’s terrain, and reclaiming the body’s innate power to heal.
About the author
Dr. Corey Priest has been practicing functional medicine since 2001. in2GREAT was founded in 2014 by Dr Priest after 13 years of experience with his other practices. Over his career, Dr. Priest has worked with and helped well over 10,000 patients under a functional medicine model.
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