Fasting-induced differential stress sensitization in cancer treatment

Abstract

Most tumors are generated and evolve under high-nutrient conditions, yet therapy does not include dietary changes generating a hostile environment for cancer cells. Because fasting promotes the most drastic change in the levels of plasma macro- and micro-nutrients, and consequently in glucose and growth factors, it has the potential to maximize cancer cell sensitization.

Keywords: Differential Stress Sensitization (DSS); Fasting; Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD); REV1; p53.

Figures

Figure 1.

Schematics of key factors modulated by nutrients. The effect of fasting on a broad range of key factors involved in cell metabolism and protection (contained in the blue area) results in cancer cell death. In contrast, the inhibition of single factors by pharmaceutical intervention (e.g., kinase inhibitors) often results in metabolic rearrangements and compensatory mechanisms that allow cancer cells to survive and grow. Drugs used for cancer treatment (indicated in bold) and their effects on each factor (marked in green) are shown. The combination of fasting with chemotherapy or targeted inhibitors gives the best outcome for cancer cell targeted killing (differential stress sensitization or DSS).