Intermittent Fasting Enhances Anti-Androgen Therapy Efficacy in Prostate Cancer, Preclinical Study Shows

Researchers at the University at Buffalo查看公司主页 have demonstrated for the first time that intermittent fasting significantly enhances the efficacy of anti-androgen therapy in prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病, according to preclinical results published in Cancer Research on August 8. The groundbreaking study reveals a novel therapeutic approach that could transform how clinicians approach prostate cancer treatment by combining dietary interventions with standard hormone therapy.

Mechanism of Enhanced Drug Sensitivity

The research team, led by Roberto Pili, MD, associate dean for cancer research and integrative oncology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, found that alternate-day fasting fundamentally alters the tumor microenvironment in ways that make cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment. In mouse models of prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病, restricting consumption of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates through alternate-day fasting reduced androgen receptor (搜索)搜索该靶点 expression and signaling, directly enhancing the antitumor activity of enzalutamide查看药品详情, a standard androgen receptor inhibitor.

The study revealed that alternate-day fasting reduced amino acid levels and global protein synthesis within prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 tumors, creating metabolic stress that made tumors more sensitive to the drug. This benefit was consistently demonstrated across multiple mouse models of prostate cancer, suggesting the approach may have broad applicability.

Dietary Impact on Cancer Biology

The research builds on growing evidence linking Western dietary patterns to cancer progression. As Pili explains, "Diet can have a significant impact on the biology of prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 and dietary interventions should be seen as an adjuvant tool." The typical Western diet, with its heavy animal fat and protein content, has been linked to increased cancer incidence and poor prognosis, while caloric restriction has emerged as a potential strategy for reducing cancer incidence and delaying progression.

Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are necessary for the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells, and caloric restriction has been shown in preclinical models to reduce circulating growth factors and hormones that promote cancer development.

Clinical Translation Underway

Building on these promising preclinical findings, Pili is actively recruiting patients for clinical trials to test the approach in humans. The trials include studies of restricted eating in prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 patients receiving hormone therapy, as well as investigations of plant-based diets combined with caloric restriction for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

"The goal is to complete the ongoing clinical trials and to learn more about the impact of dietary restrictions on the biology of prostate cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 and other hormone-driven tumors, such as breast cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病," Pili states.

Collaborative Research Effort

The study represents a collaborative effort involving researchers from multiple institutions, including co-corresponding author Kirk A. Staschke, PhD, from the Indiana University查看公司主页 Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the IU School of Medicine. Additional co-authors contributed from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center查看公司主页, the University of Sydney, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

The research received substantial funding support from the National Institutes of Health, the Showalter Trust, the Prostate Cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 Foundation, the Department of Defense, Indiana University查看公司主页, the American Cancer Society, the Lilly Endowment Inc., the Bakewell Foundation, and the Australian Youth and Health Foundation, reflecting the broad scientific interest in this therapeutic approach.