Complete remission of pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma after treatment with oral germanium sesquioxide

Spindle cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare form of lung cancer representing 0.2 to 0.3% of all primary pulmonary malignancies. Even with combined surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, these tumors are associated with a poor prognosis and only 10% of patients survive 2 veers after diagnosis. We describe a patient with an unresectable SCC who, following no response to conventional treatment with combined modality therapy, chose to medicate herself with daily doses of germanium obtained in a health food stole. She noted prompt symptomatic improvement and remains clinically and radiographically fr ee of disease tl 2 months after starting her alternative therapy.