Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Oxford Conference Center
Event Website
https://oxfordicsb.org/
Start Date
20-4-2026 4:00 PM
End Date
20-4-2026 4:30 PM
Description
The fundamental goal of cancer therapy is to cure the cancer. However, the approach to that goal is complicated and varies depending upon the type and stage of the tumor as well as the clinical characteristics of the patient. Cancer treatment focused on killing the tumor has considerable comorbidities associated with each therapy. Common side effects such as systemic immunosuppression, bleeding, anemia and specific organ-based pathologies each have their own significant morbidity/mortality risk. The use of natural products, both as direct antitumor agents and as moderators/mitigators of side effects of antitumor agents has a long history. Recent studies seek to provide evidence-based rationales for the use of these natural products in cancer patients for various comorbidities associated with both the cancer itself and the therapeutic interventions. The current status of immune resilience promotion, mitigating bleeding risk and decreasing/preventing organ-specific toxicities will be discussed. A call for more pragmatic clinical trial design is important for more rapid translation of research findings for direct patient benefit.
Recommended Citation
Marshall, Gailen D., "Using Natural Products in Patients with Cancer: More than Chemotherapy" (2026). Oxford ICSB. 4.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/4
Publication Date
April 2026
Accessibility Status
Searchable text, Screen reader accessible
Included in
Using Natural Products in Patients with Cancer: More than Chemotherapy
Oxford Conference Center
The fundamental goal of cancer therapy is to cure the cancer. However, the approach to that goal is complicated and varies depending upon the type and stage of the tumor as well as the clinical characteristics of the patient. Cancer treatment focused on killing the tumor has considerable comorbidities associated with each therapy. Common side effects such as systemic immunosuppression, bleeding, anemia and specific organ-based pathologies each have their own significant morbidity/mortality risk. The use of natural products, both as direct antitumor agents and as moderators/mitigators of side effects of antitumor agents has a long history. Recent studies seek to provide evidence-based rationales for the use of these natural products in cancer patients for various comorbidities associated with both the cancer itself and the therapeutic interventions. The current status of immune resilience promotion, mitigating bleeding risk and decreasing/preventing organ-specific toxicities will be discussed. A call for more pragmatic clinical trial design is important for more rapid translation of research findings for direct patient benefit.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/4
Comments
Gailen D. Marshall, MD PhD is the R Faser Triplett Sr MD Chair of Allergy and Immunology, Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor, Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics , Pathology and Population Health Science, Executi, Medical Director of the UMMC Clinical Research Support Program, Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine, Director of the Division of Clinical Immunology and Chief, Laboratory of Behavioral Immunology Research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He received both his PhD in Immunology and MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, did internal medicine training at the University of Iowa and completed his internal medicine residency, chief residency and Allergy-Immunology fellowship at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. He is an active clinician, educator and research investigator. His major research interests focus on the clinical effects and underlying mechanisms of psychological stress (in the context of genomics, environmental factors and lifestyle choices) on dysfunctional immune responses involved in various diseases including allergic rhinitis and asthma and, most recently, COVID-19. He also studies the immunomodulatory effects of new therapeutic agents for allergy and asthma and, the effectiveness of an integrative approach to allergy and asthma care using botanicals and natural products. He has published over 250 peer reviewed articles, reviews and book chapters. He is an active speaker in regional, national and international venues. He has extensive editorial experience and was Editor-in-chief of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology for sixteen years.. Dr. Marshall is married to the former Elizabeth Marek RN. They have three children: Sarah Rylie MD (Scott), Jonathan Marshall JD (Brienne) and Rebecca Marshall MA. They have five grandchildren – Caleb John Rylie, Elizabeth Joy Rylie , Ethan Daugherty Marshall, Aidan Gregory Marshall and Abigail Anne Marshall. Dr. Marshall enjoys amateur radio, astrophotography and fly fishing and is active in church and community activities.