Luigi di Bella

Luigi di Bella (July 17, 1912—July 1, 2003) was an Italian medical doctor and physiology professor. In the late 1990s, he created a treatment for cancer that precipitated an international controversy. His treatments were subsequently tested and found to be ineffective. [ [http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/54/2/110 Alternative Cancer Cures: "Unproven" or "Disproven"?] ]

Di Bella was born in Linguaglossa, Sicily. He studied medicine at Bari University, and worked as an army doctor in Greece. In 1948, he became a professor of physiology at the University of Modena.

During the late 1990s, di Bella developed a cocktail of drugs, vitamins and hormones (Melatonin and Somatostatin) which he argued would be useful in fighting cancer. Following national exposure in 1997 and 1998, several cancer patients from around the world traveled to his clinic seeking access to a "miracle cure". Medical authorities later found his treatment to be without scientific merit, although di Bella rejected their conclusions and argued that drug companies were conspiring against him.

Di Bella's work fomented of a political controversy in Italy. The centre-left government of Romano Prodi was skeptical of his research, while right-wing parties such as the AN supported him.

See also

* Alternative cancer treatment

References

* Philip Willan, "Obituary - Luigi di Bella", "The Guardian", 8 July 2003, p. 25.
* Di Bella L. Orientamenti fisiologici nella terapia delle emopatie. Bull Sc Med. 1974; 145:1-3
* Di Bella L, Rossi MT, Scalera G. Perspectives in Pineal Function. Prog Brain Res. 1979; 52:475-478
* Di Bella L, Bruschi C, Gualano L. Melatonin effects on megakaryocyte membrane patch-clamp outward K+ current. Med Sci Monit. 2002; 8(12):527-531
* Di Bella L, Gualano L. Key Aspects of Melatonin Physiology: Thirty Years of Research. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006; 27(4):425-432

Books

* Giuseppe Di Bella, Il Metodo Di Bella (2004), Mattioli 1885 Ed.
* Achille Norsa, La multiterapia biologica razionale dei tumori: il Metodo Di Bella (2007), Mattioli 1885 Ed.
* Bruno Vespa, Luigi Di Bella-Si può guarire? (1998), Mondadori
* Luciano Gualano, Homage to Professor Di Bella (2007), Neuroendocrinology Letters; 28(3):219-220

External links

* http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/dibella.html
* http://www.tinet.ch/dibella/note.html
* http://www.dibella.it/
* http://www.metododibella.org/