Cancer Study

Background

Heart Based Institute (HBI)1 has conducted numerous studies showing how the Open Heart approach relieves stress and enhances the experience of peace, calm, joy, and gratitude. This suggested to us that relying on the spiritual heart helps neutralize negative emotions. We theorized that the Open Heart state might also neutralize external negativities and defuse toxic interpersonal environments. To test this theory, we collaborated with a research laboratory in a Big 10 University’s School of Medicine to design a study to examine the effects of the Open Heart state by practicing “True Source of Love Meditation” (formulated by Irmansyah Effendi) on human prostate cancer cells. In these experiments the in vitro cancer cells (in petri dishes) represented the toxic environment. The research scientists were not affiliated with HBI in any way and had no familiarity with True Source of Love Meditation or the Open Heart state experienced by doing the practice.

Research Method

For over three years, Heart Based Institute and this research group conducted numerous experiments to study the effects of the Open Heart state on two different types of aggressive human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and CWR-R1). In each experiment, the meditation group included one to three individuals experiencing the Open Heart state by practicing True Source of Love Meditation for 15minutes while seated approximately two feet away from cell cultures (three independent samples of each cancer cell line). The practitioners did not use visualization, energy channeling or any other “mind-body” modality, nor did they focus their attention on the prostate cancer cells during the 15-minute meditation intervention. Rather, the process involved letting go of mental constructs and instead simply experiencing peace, joy, and gratitude, effortlessly melting into boundless Unconditional Love through the practitioner’s heart connection to True Source, the Source of Love and the Creator of our true self.

The non-meditation control group included two volunteers located in a different room on the same floor of the building as the test group with identical conditions. The volunteers were seated the same distance away from the same number and types of cell cultures. These volunteers simply sat still for 15 minutes; they did not practice True Source of Love Meditation or any other mind-body techniques. 

After the 15-minute period, cell samples from the meditation and control groups were placed in an incubator, allowing the cancer cells to grow for 48 hours. The samples were then measured to determine the cell migration or “spread” of the cancer cells.

These experiments where conducted on four separate occasions over a three-year period, three times with three meditation practitioners and once with one practitioner.  

Results and Conclusion

In each of the four experiments, the one-time remote 15-minute True Source of Love Meditation consistently and significantly reduced the spread of the cancer cells in the in vitro cultures between 35 and 44% compared to control groups.

 

Cancer Cell Migration Graph

In order to determine the scientific explanation for this significant reduction, whole-genome microarray analysis was performed on the cell samples. The analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the mRNA levels of tissue inhibitor of metallopeptidases 2 (TIMP2) in all meditation samples. These results suggested that True Source of Love Meditation resulted in an epigenetic change and dramatic reduction in the spread of prostate cancer cells. These results are consistent with other cancer studies that also show that TIMP2 has anti-tumor properties).2-3

TIMP2 has also been demonstrated to have anti-aging properties.4-6  A study at Stanford University demonstrated that learning and memory of older mice could be rejuvenated upon receiving injection of umbilical cord blood wherein the TIMP2 gene is actively expressed. TIMP2 is primarily found to be actively expressed in umbilical cord blood, but the TIMP2 gene expression is suppressed in adult humans. Umbilical cord blood was once discarded as waste material but is now known to be a useful source of blood stem cells, which can be used to treat cancer and other immunological disorders. It is profound that the power of True Source Love has the potential to awaken genetic expression of genes in cancers cells that are typically only activated in umbilical cord blood.

TIMP2 Gene Expression Graph

In Summary, this study showed for the first time that a one-time 15-minute experimental exposure to True Source of Love Meditation dramatically reduced the migration of human prostate cancer cells in culture, which is potentially attributable to epigenetic upregulation of TIMP2 gene expression.  It opens the door for future research possibilities to explore whether the Open Heart state could be used as a complementary approach to cancer treatment as well as its effect on TIMP2 activation within healthy cells.

Current Status

HBI and the University research group co-authored a research paper entitled “Reduction of human prostate cancer cell migration in vitro by remote True Source of Love Meditation” and submitted it to the well-respected scientific journal “Integrative Cancer Therapies”. The journal undertook a lengthy and thorough peer-review process to evaluate the design, methodology, results, and conclusions put forth in the research paper.

In December of 2019, the reviewers from the Integrative Cancer Therapy Journal recommended publication with some minor revisions to the manuscript. However, after receiving this notification from the Journal, the administration at the University withdrew participation, effectively eliminating the possibility of publication. 

Regardless of the decision made by the administration, we are incredibly grateful to the scientists at this University research group for their dedication and objectivity throughout the course of this three-year study.

We believe there is a tremendous amount of potential in furthering this research and would welcome partnering with the right institution to collaborate on additional studies. If your organization has any interest in conducting follow-up research, please contact us to learn more.

Study Abstract

Title: Reduction of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Migration In Vitro by Remote True Source of Love Meditation

Abstract:  Tumor metastasis is the major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and accounts for approximately 90% of cancer deaths worldwide. Interventions that cause changes in the expression of genes associated with cell motility may improve cancer patient survival. In this study, we have examined the effects of True Source of Love Meditation (TSLM) on two different aggressive human prostate cancer cell lines. We found that a one-time remote 15-minute meditation exposure consistently and significantly reduced cancer cell motility in in vitro cultures by more than 35% when compared to a non-meditation control. Whole-genome microarray analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the mRNA levels of tissue Inhibitor of metallopeptidases 2 (TIMP2) in all meditation samples. Gene silencing analysis confirmed that the change of TIMP2 expression is important for inhibition of cancer cell migration by this meditation intervention. Together these results suggest that this meditation intervention may effectively slow down cancer cell migration by the epigenetic upregulation of TIMP2 gene expression.

References

1: Heart Based Institute (HBI) https://heartbased.org/

2:  Pulukuri SM, Patibandla S, Patel J, Estes N, Rao JS. Epigenetic inactivation of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) gene in human prostate tumors. Oncogene. 2007;26(36):5229–5237.

3:   Remillard TC, Bratslavsky G, Jensen-Taubman S, Stetler-Stevenson WG, Bourboulia D. Molecular mechanisms of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Cell Ther. 2014;2:17.

4:   Castellano JM, Mosher KI, Abbey RJ, McBride AA, James ML, Berdnik D, et al. Human umbilical cord plasma proteins revitalize hippocampal function in aged mice. Nature. 2017;544(7651):488-492.

5:   Goldman B. Study shows protein in human umbilical cord blood rejuvenates old mice’s impaired learning, memory. Stanford Medicine 2017. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/04/protein-in-umbilical-cord-blood-rejuvenates-old-mices-memory.html Accessed October 10, 2018.

6:   Collins F. Aging research: plasma protein revitalizes the brain. NIH Director Blog 2017. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2017/04/25/aging-research-plasma-protein-revitalizes-the-brain/ Accessed October 10, 2018.

To explore partnering with us on additional heart based research, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!