Prostate cancer affects about 13% of cisgender men worldwide, making it the second most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. Despite improved screening and early detection methods, more advanced stages of prostate cancer can be challenging to treat, with about one in 44 men dying from the disease. Researchers from the University of Notre Dame have conducted a study using a mouse model of prostate cancer to investigate the potential efficacy of combining a pre-ketone supplement with immunotherapy in treating this type of cancer. Immunotherapy is a treatment that utilizes the body’s immune system to fight cancer, and there are currently two types of immunotherapy available for prostate cancer — cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The study aimed to find new ways to sensitize prostate cancer to immunotherapy, as advanced prostate cancer has been resistant to this treatment modality. The researchers found that adding a pre-ketone supplement to immunotherapy may enhance the treatment’s efficiency. The idea to use a pre-ketone supplement stemmed from previous observations that an epigenetic drug could sensitize prostate cancer models to immunotherapy. The supplement, containing the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), aims to increase the presentation of molecular features on cancer cells’ surfaces, making them more detectable to the immune system and enhancing the immune cell attacks on the cancer cells. The study results showed promising outcomes, with the combination of pre-ketone supplement and immunotherapy resulting in 23% of the mice being tumor-free.
Wael Harb, MD, a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist, found the concept of combining a ketogenic diet or a ketone supplement with immunotherapy for prostate cancer intriguing. However, he emphasized the need for clinical trials to verify the efficacy and safety of this approach in human patients. Harb highlighted the complexity of the human body and the importance of translating findings from animal models to clinical trials before making treatment recommendations. He also emphasized the importance of carefully monitoring weight loss in cancer patients, as the ketogenic diet can lead to weight loss, which may be detrimental for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Overall, the study conducted by researchers at the University of Notre Dame provides promising insights into the potential benefits of combining a pre-ketone supplement with immunotherapy in treating prostate cancer. While the results are encouraging, the findings are based on a mouse model, and further research, including clinical trials in human patients, is needed to validate the efficacy and safety of this treatment approach. The study raises hope for developing more effective treatments for advanced prostate cancer and potentially other cancer types, but caution should be exercised when interpreting the results and translating them into clinical practice.
