Keto Diet Supplement Could Supercharge Cancer Treatment, New Study Finds
New Research Suggests Ketogenic Diet Supplement Could Enhance CAR T Cell Therapy, Offering a Promising, Low-Cost Solution to Boost Cancer Treatment Outcomes
Keto Diet Supplement Could Supercharge Cancer Treatment, New Study Finds
In a promising breakthrough, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center have found that a simple ketogenic diet supplement could enhance the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment for blood cancers. The study suggests that a ketogenic diet may help “supercharge” the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, offering a cost-effective, low-toxicity strategy for patients.
CAR T cell therapy, which involves reprogramming a patient’s own immune cells to target and kill cancer, has shown success in treating certain blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. However, not all patients respond to the treatment. The new study, co-led by Shan Liu, a postdoctoral fellow, and Puneeth Guruprasad, a medical student, offers an exciting possibility to enhance CAR T cell function by using a ketogenic diet supplement.
The Keto Diet’s Role in Enhancing Cancer Treatment
The research team explored the effects of several diets—ketogenic, high-fiber, high-fat, high-protein, high-cholesterol, and a control diet—on the tumor-fighting abilities of CAR T cells. They tested these diets on a mouse model of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a common and aggressive blood cancer. The results were striking: the ketogenic diet outperformed all other diets, leading to improved tumor control and survival rates in the mice.
What made the ketogenic diet stand out? It was found to significantly increase levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a metabolite produced by the liver when the body is in a state of ketosis, which occurs during a ketogenic diet. BHB was identified as a key mediator of this effect, and researchers believe it could be the secret weapon that boosts CAR T cell function.
The Science Behind the Keto-CAR T Connection
CAR T cells primarily rely on glucose for energy, but the researchers hypothesized that they could perform better with an alternative fuel source—BHB. According to Guruprasad, the CAR T cells may prefer BHB over glucose, which could give them more power to destroy cancer cells effectively. This is a groundbreaking theory, suggesting that supplementing with BHB could enhance the body’s immune response to cancer in ways not previously considered.
The Phase I clinical trial currently underway at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is testing this theory. If the clinical trials confirm the results seen in mice, it could open up new possibilities for cancer treatment that are both affordable and low-risk for patients.
A Low-Cost, High-Potential Treatment
One of the most exciting aspects of this study is its potential to offer an affordable treatment option. Unlike many cancer therapies, which can be prohibitively expensive and come with severe side effects, the ketogenic diet intervention is relatively cheap, with low toxicity risks. This makes it an appealing option, particularly for patients in lower-income brackets or those seeking complementary treatments alongside traditional therapies.
As Maayan Levy, an assistant professor of Microbiology, points out, if the clinical trial results are positive, this simple approach could be combined with other dietary interventions or even traditional treatments to enhance their effectiveness. Levy is particularly excited about the possibility of pairing this approach with existing cancer treatments, which could help improve patient outcomes without adding significant cost or risk.
What’s Next for Keto and Cancer?
While the research is still in its early stages, the findings so far are extremely promising. Researchers are excited to continue testing BHB supplementation as part of CAR T cell therapy and hope that, if proven successful, this simple intervention could have a profound impact on cancer treatment.
If these early results hold up in clinical trials, the ketogenic diet could become a crucial tool in the fight against cancer. This could provide new hope for thousands of cancer patients worldwide, improving their chances of survival and offering a more accessible treatment option.
Conclusion: A Game-Changer in Cancer Care?
The discovery that a ketogenic diet could enhance the power of CAR T cells in fighting cancer is a potential game-changer for the medical world. As research progresses, this simple, low-cost strategy could be integrated into existing cancer treatments to boost their effectiveness, offering a more personalized and affordable option for patients.
With a growing focus on precision medicine and low-toxicity interventions, the future of cancer care could soon look very different. This study marks just the beginning of what may be a new wave of innovative, diet-based treatments that transform how we approach and fight cancer.
