A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of California San Francisco has found that a ketogenic diet, when combined with certain cancer therapies, can effectively block the development of pancreatic cancer in mice. The researchers were able to starve cancer cells in an animal model of pancreatic cancer by using a high-fat diet in conjunction with a new cancer drug called eFT508, which is currently in clinical trials. This combination blocked fat metabolism in the mice, ultimately causing the tumors to shrink.
The study, published in Nature, reveals that the ketogenic diet interacts with a protein known as eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF4E), which is responsible for triggering fat consumption in the body during periods of fasting. By blocking this protein with eFT508 and maintaining a ketogenic diet, researchers were able to stop the growth of tumors in the mice. This discovery holds promise for potential new treatment strategies for various types of cancer.
Davide Ruggero, PhD, Goldberg-Benioff Endowed Professor at UCSF and senior author of the study, believes that this approach of combining diet and drug therapy could be applied to treat other cancers as well. Despite the promise shown in the study, there is a need for further research on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of this treatment method.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter expressed enthusiasm for the study’s findings but emphasized the importance of conducting more research with human subjects. She noted that adhering to a strict ketogenic diet can be challenging, particularly for cancer patients who are already undergoing rigorous treatments. Richter highlighted the need to consider the patient’s quality of life when exploring new treatment options.
Surgical oncologist Anton Bilchik, MD, PhD, also praised the potential of the ketogenic diet in combination with cancer therapy but cautioned against the risks of weight loss in the context of pancreatic cancer. He pointed out that many pancreatic cancer patients already experience significant weight loss due to various factors and that further weight loss could weaken the immune system’s ability to fight the disease.
Richter suggested that fasting-mimicking diets, such as the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), could be a viable alternative to the ketogenic diet for cancer patients. FMD restricts certain nutrients to activate the body’s natural cellular rejuvenation processes, potentially aiding in the fight against cancer. She emphasized the importance of personalized treatment approaches based on individual patient and cancer characteristics to minimize potential negative effects of diet and drug therapies.
In conclusion, the study on the combination of a ketogenic diet and cancer therapy in blocking pancreatic cancer development in mice shows exciting possibilities for future cancer treatment strategies. Further research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this approach in humans, as well as to explore personalized treatment options based on individual metabolic needs. By targeting cancer cell vulnerabilities through specific dietary interventions, researchers hope to develop more effective and less toxic therapies for various types of cancer.
