| Many aggressive cancers depend on anaerobic glycolysis for ATP production, as has been known since first described by Otto Warburg in the 1920’s. The remarkable success of modern PET scanning in the detection, staging and prognosis of many cancers using F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) reflects this dependence. Very low carbohydrate ketogenic (VLCK) diets have inhibited cancer growth in animal studies and in a human case study. Ketone bodies in culture media have inhibited cancer growth in cell culture studies [1], [5], [6]. While the mechanism of cancer inhibition is unlikely to be simple glucose deprivation, several plausible mechanisms have been proposed. VLCK diets cause tonic reductions in hormones that are supportive of tumor growth including insulin, IGF7, IL6 and other inflammatory cytokines. Other metabolic effects include apoptosis due to increased plasma fatty acids, and inhibition of fatty acid synthase, a target of chemotherapeutic agents. While we actively explore cellular and metabolic effects of ketone bodies themselves in our own laboratories, we are also recruiting patients in a nutritional Clinical Trial of carbohydrate restriction in collaboration between the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Downstate Medical Center. The two principle aims are to: 1) Determine safety and feasibility of a 28 day VLCK diet in 12 subjects with FDG avid cancers. 2) Monitor change in PET FDG uptake between the beginning and end of the trial as a surrogate marker for efficacy (as has been done in lymphoma, lung cancer, breast cancer and other malignancies). Five patients with metastatic cancer have completed four weeks of a VLCK diet without adverse effects. We are looking to recruit another 7 patients. Please take a look at our website for more information. |
1.7.11
Diet & Cancer - Metabolism Society
