http://www.ylcountry.com/DCA/faq.html#01Q:
What is DCA and how does it work?
A:
DCA is a drug that “boosts†the function of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the energy-producing units within cells and they regulate the energy production in the body (i.e. the metabolism). Cancer somehow suppresses the function of mitochondria and by achieving this it gains “eternal lifeâ€ÂÂÂ. We believe that cancer cells die when the mitochondria are “normalized†or boosted by DCA. Because these effects in mitochondria occur only in cancer and not normal cells, we believe that DCA will not have the significant side effects (hair loss, nausea, heart failure etc) that many standard chemotherapies have.
Basically, DCA reactivates the energy-producing organelles of cells (mitochondria), and allows the cancerous cells to commit suicide (apoptosis).
Here's what happens...
Many types of cancer cells shut down the cell's mitochondria, the primary energy producing parts of a cell. By doing so, the cancer cell also shuts down the cell suicide mechanism, known as apoptosis, which is initiated by the mitochondria. The research team of Doctors Michelakis and Archer of the University of Alberta found that DCA opens up the ‘channels’ on the membrane of those mitochondria, essentially waking them up. The functioning mitochondria can then initiate the suicide process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpkMD_WFPUEresearchers at the University of Alberta believe it may soon be used as an effective treatment for many forms of cancer. However, because the compound is not patented, you may never see it on the market as Drug companies can not profit
